Looking for a mussels recipe with Wow factor? This is it. Fresh mussels cooked in and served with a spicy coconut curry broth.
When Garrett McCord told me he had the best mussels recipe in the world I was skeptical, that is until I tried it. Yikes this is good! ~Elise
When I need a good party food or want to impress some friends I usually turn to mussels cooked in coconut milk and curry. It’s affordable, easy to prepare, and has a definite wow factor.
These mussels take on the flavors of the broth which is spiked with lemongrass, pungent red chilies, and kaffir lime leaves leaving them with a distinct Thai flavor.
The mussels themselves infuse the broth with a light salty brine that cuts through the richness of the coconut milk. This recipe will feed four people happily or make an excellent appetizer for a group.
Serve with beer and crusty bread.
Coconut Curry Mussels Recipe
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of mussels, cleaned and debearded
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 thai chili, finely chopped (can substitute good pinch of chili flakes)
- 3 teaspoons of ginger, minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of curry powder
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth
- 1 can of coconut milk (13.5 fl. oz.)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 stalk of lemongrass, chopped into four pieces and smashed
- 3 kaffir lime leaves* (optional)
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
*Kaffir lime leaf: a key ingredient in Vietnamese, Thai, and Hmong cuisine; can be found in Asian Markets, though many markets now carry them in the produce aisles with other fresh herbs. The taste is very distinct and can’t be substituted. However, you can make this dish without the leaves and the mussels will still taste great.
Method
1 Soak raw mussels in cold water, then de-beard: Place mussels in a bowl of cold water so the mussels will spit out any sand or mud. Let them sit for 10 minutes. Drain and repeat. Toss any mussels that are open as these are dead.
Debeard the mussels, pulling out their byssal threads (aka: their « beards ») and place them in a bowl of cold water until ready to use.
2 Sauté onions, chiles, ginger, curry powder: Heat the oil in a pot (large enough to hold all of the mussels) on medium high heat and add the onion and stir for a few minutes until they become soft and slightly translucent.
Add the chilies, ginger, and curry powder and stir for a minute until fragrant.
3 Add broth and reduce, then add coconut milk, salt, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves: Add the chicken broth and reduce half. Add the coconut milk, salt, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves if using and bring to a boil.
4 Add mussels: Drain and add the mussels, reduce heat to medium and cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the mussels open.
Discard any that are closed as these were dead before cooking. (Some may only be slightly open, if you have to debate on whether it’s good to eat or not, toss it.)
Spoon mussels into bowls and pour over with broth. Garnish with chopped cilantro and juice from lime wedges.
