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Steamed black mussels served on a dark plate with lemon wedges and chopped parsley on a wooden background.

Black Mussels Recipe

This black mussels recipe is quick, easy, and full of flavor. Fresh mussels are steamed in white wine with garlic, shallots, and herbs, then finished with butter and lemon juice. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's perfect for a light, elegant seafood meal served with crusty bread or fries.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: French-Inspired, Mediterranean
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 kg about 4.5 lbs fresh black mussels, cleaned and debearded
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 small shallots finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup dry white wine or seafood/chicken broth
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Crusty bread or fries for serving

Method
 

  1. Clean the mussels: Rinse under cold water. Scrub the shells and remove beards. Discard any open or broken ones.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Warm olive oil in a big pot over medium heat to start cooking the aromatics. Add garlic and shallots. Cook for 1–2 minutes until soft.
  3. Add mussels: Stir in the mussels. Pour in white wine. Cover with a lid.
  4. Steam mussels: Cook for 5–7 minutes until mussels open. Shake the pot gently once or twice during cooking.
  5. Finish: Remove from heat. Add butter, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and parsley. Stir gently.
  6. Serve hot: Spoon mussels into bowls. Pour broth over top. Serve with bread or fries.