A glossy amber broth, speckled with deep orange strands of saffron, cradle plump mussels opened like blooming flowers. Nestled at the center are slices of charred fennel, adding a mild, sweet contrast against the vibrant dish. A sprinkle of chopped flat-leaf parsley freshens everything.

Winter Charred Fennel & Mussels in Saffron Broth

Name: Winter Charred Fennel & Mussels in Saffron Broth
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: Fresh mussels, 2 lbs cleaned and debearded; Fennel bulbs, 2 sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds; Extra-virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons; Garlic cloves, 4 minced; Dry white wine, 1 cup; Saffron threads, a small pinch; Vegetable broth, 2 cups; Lemon, 1 juiced; Flat-leaf parsley, a handful chopped; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste freshly ground

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Mediterranean

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: January 30, 2026

This Mediterranean-inspired dish is a delicious blend of warming spices and fresh seafood, perfect for a cozy meal in. It's a great low-carb, flavor-packed comfort food with seasonal ingredients like fennel and fresh mussels.

Ingredients (for 4)

Fresh mussels - 2 lbs - cleaned and debearded
Fennel bulbs - 2 - sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
Extra-virgin olive oil - 3 tablespoons
Garlic cloves - 4 - minced
Dry white wine - 1 cup
Saffron threads - a small pinch
Vegetable broth - 2 cups
Lemon - 1 - juiced
Flat-leaf parsley - a handful - chopped
Salt - to taste
Black pepper - to taste - freshly ground

Preparation

Step 1 - 🥘🔥🥬

Preheat the grill pan over high heat. Coat fennel rounds with olive oil, grill them until char marks appear, about 3-4 minutes each side, then set aside.
Step 2 - 🍲🧄🔥

Pour olive oil and minced garlic into a large pot, cook over medium heat until the garlic aroma fills the air.
Step 3 - 🍲🍷🧡

Further add white wine to the pot and let it simmer for a minute or so, then toss in the saffron threads, gently stir until the liquid turns golden.
Step 4 - 🥘🍋💧

Infuse the liquid with vegetable broth and lemon juice, turn the heat to high, wait till the mixture comes to a boil.
Step 5 - 🍲🦪⏲️

Add mussels into the boiling mixture, cover the pot, let it cook until the mussels open, approximately 5-7 minutes.
Step 6 - 🍲🥣🌿

Place the charred fennels into four separate bowls, evenly distribute the mussels, pour the broth over the top. Season with a sprinkle of chopped parsley, a dash of salt, and freshly ground pepper to finish.

Additional

This dish goes wonderfully with a crisp, cold glass of white wine. If you're feeding kiddos, they can help clean and debeard the mussels, under supervision, of course! For a fun twist, try adding a pinch of smoked paprika to the broth.