Mussels are an excellent choice for an appetizer or main course, but it can be hard to figure out what to serve with them. That’s why we’re here!
Here are what to serve with mussels:
- Crusty Bread
- Green Salad
- Marinara Sauce
- White Wine
- Chorizo Sausage
- And many more.
We’ll give you some ideas of different things that go well with mussels. This blog post so you can feel confident when ordering them in restaurants or cooking at home.
What are Mussels?
About
The word “mussel” can refer to the numerous species of bivalve mollusks living in saltwater and freshwater settings.
In addition to the above criteria, some of these species have an elongated and asymmetrical shell compared to other edible clams that are usually more or less round or oval.
What Do Mussels Taste Like?
They have a sweet, mushroom-like undertone and a mild “ocean” flavor. They’re delicious and have a hidden flavor that complements a variety of foods.
They’ll take on the taste of the other ingredients in whatever dish you mix them with.
Are Mussels Oysters?
No. They are different.
- Oysters have rough, dull, and hard shells covered in barnacles. The body of an oyster is generally oval-shaped.
- Mussels have smooth, purple-black shells. The shells are round and have an extended part on end.
Are Mussels Healthy?
Yes. They are a healthy and nutritious source of protein and contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and folate.
They exceed the recommended daily intake of selenium, iodine, and iron.
What to Serve with Mussels?
Now that you know a little more, let’s look at some of the best foods to serve. Below are some pairing ideas:
Marinara
This is a dish made with tomato sauce. This incredible pairing is delicious, healthy, and easy to make.
In White Wine Sauce
Another traditional dish is in white wine sauce with garlic bread on the side. You can serve this with salad or pasta for an even heartier meal.
With Aioli
Aioli is a traditional sauce that’s made with garlic and olive oil.
It can be served as an appetizer or an accompaniment, making it another excellent pairing for this dish.
With Lemon & White Wine Sauce
The classic combination of seafood and lemon goes well in white wine sauce. This dish is light, refreshing, and perfect for a summer meal.
With Curry Sauce
Curry sauce is a great way to add flavor. It’s spicy and flavorful and goes well with rice or naan bread as an accompaniment.
In Red Wine Sauce
It’s rich and creamy with a touch of sweetness, which makes it an excellent choice for serving with bread or pasta.
With Cream Sauce And Pasta
This combination works well because the sauce’s creaminess helps balance out any bitterness that might come through.
With Spicy Sauce And Rice Or Noodles
Rice or noodles are an excellent accompaniment for any spicy dish, which goes double when served in a flavorful sauce.
With Chorizo Sausage
This is an excellent option if you’re looking for something different. Chorizo sausage is spicy and flavorful and goes well with the sweetness.
With Crusty Bread
One of the best things is that they’re a complete meal all by themselves, but serving them with crusty bread on the side makes it even better.
With Green Salad
A green salad is a great way to lighten up the meal and add freshness. It’s also an excellent way to get some vegetables in your diet.
With Grilled Vegetables
Adding grilled vegetables to the mix is another great way to ensure you get all your daily nutrients.
With Garlic Bread and Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread goes well and works exceptionally well if the sourdough is toasted. Garlic bread adds a delicious garlic flavor as an accompaniment to this dish.
With Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are another great side option that goes perfectly. They’re crispy, flavorful, and healthier than regular fries.
With Quinoa
Quinoa is a high-protein grain that’s a great alternative to rice or pasta. It goes well and provides additional nutrients to the dish.
French Baquette and Vegetables
A French baguette is a type of bread made with a crusty outside and a soft, fluffy inside. It goes well with any seafood and is perfect for dipping into the sauce.
Spaghetti
This is a classic Italian dish that pairs them together. It’s simple to make and a great way to use any leftovers.
Seafood Paella
Paella is a Spanish rice dish that typically contains seafood. This makes it the perfect pairing and a great way to get a taste of Spain.
With Parmesan Potato Wedges
Potato wedges are a great side dish for any seafood, and Parmesan cheese adds a delicious flavor that goes well.
Potato Leek Soup
This soup is a great way to use up any leftovers. It’s creamy, flavorful, and healthy.
How to Cook Mussels
Mussels Dish Ideas
Here are several unique dishes in their recipes.
Steamed with cider, spring onions & cream
Fresh, steamed, and served in a shared bowl with sweet cider, herbs, and garlic, are delicious.
With tomatoes & chili
This is a classic dish that most people love.
Grilled with garlic butter
You can make this dish by steaming the fresh one in white wine, dried chili flakes, and finely chopped garlic. Then you should add some parsley for gratin them on top of bread slices before serving it to your family or friends.
Stuffed with bread crumbs, parsley, and Parmesan
This dish is relatively easy to make. You will need a little olive oil, white wine, dry bread crumbs, finely chopped parsley leaves, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Sautéed in Garlic Butter Sauce
You can sauté in garlic butter sauce for a delicious meal.
With pasta
You can cook the fresh Italian-style seafood by steaming it or boiling it on top of spaghetti or linguine. Then, add chopped basil leaves and olive oil to make this dish taste even better.
Crunchy baked with chorizo.
This dish is a great way to turn leftover into even more delicious. You should bake the crunchy appetizers in the oven with some cheese on top of it and enjoy them while watching your favorite TV show or movie.
Crab-stuffed baked
You can cook this excellent seafood by adding some fresh crab meat and garlic, then stuffing the mixture into each one. Finally, it would help if you baked them in the oven with some cheese.
In White Wine and Garlic Recipe
It is so easy to make steamed dishes at home. Shallots, garlic, and white wine make the perfect broth. The leftover broth is fantastic for soaking up with a good loaf of bread.
Ingredients
- Two tablespoons of butter and olive oil for dairy-free
- One small shallot, thinly sliced
- Three cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- Two bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 4 lb mussels, cleaned
- Optional: ¼ cup cream, we like to use cashew cream, but dairy cream works, too. See notes
- Juice from ½ lemon
- Two tablespoons of finely minced parsley
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and garlic and let them cook for 3 minutes. Bring the wine to a boil in the pot, then add the bay leaves, pepper, and wine.
- Add the clams and cover the pot with a lid. After three minutes, remove the cover and gently stir them. Try to move any shells still closed to the bottom of the pan so they are closer to the heat.
- After 5 minutes, remove from the heat. Any left that has not opened should be discarded.
- Pour the cream (if using) and the lemon juice into the sauce and gently mix.
- Sprinkle the parsley over the top and serve right away.
Serve With White Wine
- Crusty bread: Crusty bread that’s been sliced, rubbed with garlic and olive oil, and then blistered on a grill or under a broiler is just perfect.
- Simple salad: Add some simple salad to make a perfect meal.
Easy Mussels Marinara Recipe
This is a traditional Italian meal that appears much classier than it is! It’s easy, affordable, and tastes incredible.
Ingredients
- Marinara Sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 8 ounces spaghetti or bucatini pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds mussels
- To serve: Chopped fresh basil (leftover from the marinara), olive oil
Instructions
- Make or heat the marinara sauce
- Clean the clams
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until it is al dente, then drain.
- After 15 minutes, add the clams and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until they open. Stir several times while cooking.
- Place cooked pasta in a serving dish and spoon them and marinara over the top. Garnish with basil and a little olive oil, if desired.
What to serve with the marinara dish
Here are a few options for the side dishes:
- Kale Salad: This Tuscan kale salad has a lemon Parmesan dressing.
- An Italian-style Chopped Salad
- Crusty bread: Crusty bread is the perfect pairing.
Tips
What to do with leftover mussels?
You can reheat them in the same way you would shrimp. There are several methods to do it, including microwaving, steaming, pan-frying, and baking.
How to choose the best mussels?
Make sure you buy fresh one from a reputable seafood store. They should have a mild sea fragrance that isn’t too fishy.
How to clean mussels?
They can be challenging to clean. First, you must put them in a bowl of cold water and scrub those who need it. Then, if there is a beard, you can cut or pull it off. This will take more time, but it will also go faster.
FAQs
What do you eat with cooked mussels?
You can eat it with various side dishes, such as salads, pasta, and rice. They are also great on their own, with some bread to soak up the delicious broth.
What veggies go with mussels?
Here are some options for serving veggies alongside Green beans, tomatoes, and onion.
What goes with mussels in wine?
Here are a few suggestions for serving side dishes in white wine: Crusty bread or baguette slices brushed with olive oil and garlic.
A simple salad will also go well with this dish. Another option is rice pilaf served alongside the main entree.
How are mussels traditionally served?
They are usually served in the shell with a sauce, such as marinara.
Related Topics
How Do You Know when Mussels are Cooked?
To know when they are cooked, look for them to open up easily. They are done if they open up easily and have a bright orange color.
Should I Wash Mussels Before Cooking?
Washing them removes any dirt from the shell. However, washing them before cooking may remove some flavor.
If you want to wash them, simply place them in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes and scrub those who need it. This should be sufficient to clean them. After they’re cleaned, drain them well and pat dry with paper towels.
Should You Soak Mussels in Saltwater?
Yes. Soaking them in salt water for at least 30 minutes helps remove any sand from the shell and makes them easier to clean. This process also kills off any bacteria that may be present.
Is Eating Mussels Good for You?
Yes! They are delicious, nutritious, and healthy for you. They contain high levels of protein, zinc, folate, selenium, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and iodine. The best way to eat them is steamed, grilled, or boiled.
Why Do Jews Not Eat Shellfish?
The Talmud says, “Do not eat anything with fins and scales.” This refers to shellfish such as shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, oysters, scallops, mussels, etc. However, some rabbis say that they may be eaten after washing them thoroughly.
Can Mussels Feel Pain?
They have an extremely simple nervous system, and their brains lack any kind of centrality. They cannot form thoughts or experience pain.
What Veggies Go Well with Shrimp?
The best veggies for shrimp include broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas, green beans, mushrooms, cabbage, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and onions.
Why Can’t You Drink Red Wine with Fish?
Some red wines tend to be high in iron. And some researchers report that fish and other seafood release the decaying fish smell when exposed to iron. That is why drinking red wine while eating fish can produce an unpleasant aftertaste.
Can You Overcook Mussels?
Yes, you can overcook them. The best way to cook them is to put them into a pot filled with water, cover them, and let them simmer for about 10 minutes. Then remove the lid and continue cooking until they open up. If you want to be safe, use a timer.
What Side Dishes Go with Clams?
The best side dishes for clams include potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread, and garlic bread. If you want to serve something different, try serving clam chowder instead of potatoes.
How Long Will Mussels Last in The Fridge?
They last for about 2 to 5 days in the fridge. Cover the clams with a clean, damp cloth or paper towel. They should be kept in water until ready to cook.
How Does Gordon Ramsay Cook Mussels?
Gordon Ramsay cooks them using a combination of butter, garlic, white wine, and lemon juice. He then adds some salt and pepper for seasoning. The result is a delicious dish that tastes great!
What is a Good Side Dish for Oysters?
Oysters go very well with mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, pasta, polenta, grits, and crepes.
Are Vacuum Packed Mussels Still Alive?
No, they are already pre-cleaned and cooked or partially cooked. And they also usually come pre-flavored. You just need to reheat them and cook them as you like.