Garlic Buttered Mussels

Garlic buttered mussels is a savory, scrumptious Filipino seafood dish made of pre-cooked mussels and then flavored with garlic, butter, oyster sauce, salt and pepper. This dish is perfect for appetizer or pick-a-pick for drinking or get together. This garlic buttered mussels unlocks the secrets to achieving the perfect balance of garlic, butter, and the ocean’s bounty. Best when super spicy! Yum!

Garlic Buttered Mussels Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 kilos mussels
• 1 bulb garlic (chopped)
• oil (for sautéing)
• butter or margarine
• 2 pcs red chilies (chopped)
• ¼ cup oyster sauce
• 4 tablespoons water
• salt and pepper to taste
• parsley (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Wash and prepare the mussels. Transfer them to a deep pot. Cover the pot and let them cook for a few minutes.
2. Then, transfer the cooked mussels into a bowl. Separate the mussel from the shells by scooping them out using the other shell. Remove the “beard” by pulling them gently. Do these steps with all the mussels. Set aside.
3. Heat a pan and melt some butter (or margarine). Add some oil and stir a little. Then, add the chopped garlic. Saute them for a few minutes until fragrant. Add the mussels and stir fry for a few minutes.
4. Add the oyster sauce, some water, salt, pepper, and red chilies according to you spice preference. Sprinkle some parsley on top. Then, turn the heat off.
5. Transfer the garlic buttered mussels to a serving plate. Make papak or have them with some hot steaming rice. Yum!

What are Mussels?

Mussels are a type of shellfish, specifically bivalve mollusks, belonging to the family Mytilidae. These marine creatures are commonly found in oceans, seas, and freshwater bodies worldwide. Mussels have two hinged shells that are often dark blue-black or brown on the outside, while the inner shell is smooth and pearly.

Mussels are a popular ingredient in seafood dishes worldwide. Mussels are a popular and nutritious seafood delicacy enjoyed in many cuisines around the world. As a food, mussels are highly regarded for their distinct flavor, tender texture, and versatility in cooking. They can be steamed, boiled, grilled, baked, or used in soups, stews, and pasta dishes. They are often cooked with a variety of flavorful ingredients like garlic, butter, white wine, herbs, and spices.

Mussels have a unique and delectable flavor that’s often described as briny, slightly sweet, and reminiscent of the sea. Their taste is influenced by the waters they inhabit and the food they filter from their environment, making them a true reflection of their habitat. When properly cooked, mussels have a tender and meaty texture that makes them a delightful addition to various dishes.

Mussels in different dishes are truly a seafood lover’s haven. This recipe article will show you one way on how to enjoy your mussels.

Garlic Buttered Mussels

Mussels is one of the most underrated seafoods I know. Mussels belong to shellfishes, which means they are covered in hard shells. Many people like my partner do not want thrill of removing the seafood meat from the shells. With this, many people are losing out a lot in life. This garlic buttered mussels is a dish where your favorite mussels are simmered in garlicky and spicy butter. This type of mussel dish is crafted for those who wants to enjoy mussels but wants to skip the part of removing the shells.

If you wanna know how to make garlic buttered mussels, simply read and follow the quick recipe below. Happy cooking!

How to Cook Garlic Buttered Mussels

Making some garlic buttered mussels is truly easy especially if you’ve handled mussels before. Basically, the goal of this dish is to smother the small pieces of seafood in some garlicky and creamy butter. If you have tried garlic buttered dishes in the past, then this recipe will be super easy for you.

Start this dish by preparing the mussels. Just like any shellfish, fresh mussels can be bought from the wet market early morning. Fresh mussels should have a clean, briny, and slightly sweet odor of the sea. They should not smell overly fishy or unpleasant. They should be tightly closed or slightly open. If a mussel’s shell is wide open, it might be dead, but it’s not necessarily bad. Give it a gentle tap; if it closes, it’s still alive and safe to use. If it remains open or broken, discard it.

Once your mussels are ready, time to wash and prepare them. Since all the shells are still closed, heating them for a few minutes in a pot helps to open the shells. Some people steam or boil them, but since this recipe includes stir frying of the mussels, our initial target for now is just to open the shells naturally. Once you open the shells, they should look like a butterfly. My hack is, you can cut one shell and then scoop the mussel using the other shell. Unlike the shells, the actual mussels are fragile so pulling them violently may just rupture the mussel.

I usually discard the shells, but you may use them in making seafood broths.

Once all mussels have been removed from the shells, now is the time remove the beard. The beards are the wiry threads protruding from the mussel shells. We remove them to make the mussels extra clean and appetizing.

Then, now is the time to turn the stove on. Unlike other dishes, the oil to be used in this recipe is important. Instead of just any oil, we are going to use the combination of melted butter and oil to produce that fragrant aroma. For added flavor and a hint of smokiness, you can lightly toast the chopped garlic in the pan before adding the mussels. When adding the mussels to the pan, ensure the pan is hot and sizzling to promote quick and even cooking.

Adjust the amount of oyster sauce, water, salt, pepper, and red chilies according to your preferred level of spiciness and taste. Alternatively, you can use chili garlic oil as an additional flavor. Start with a smaller amount and add more as needed. To enhance the presentation, sprinkle fresh parsley on top just before removing the dish from heat. It not only adds color but also a fresh herbal aroma.

I love my garlic butter mussels as spicy as possible and as sizzling as possible. I love to papak them as a pulutan or have them on top of a big bowl of hot steaming rice. Yum!

Garlic Buttered Mussels Recipe in Tagalog

Mga Sangkap:

• 2 kilong tahong
• 1 buong bawang (hiniwa)
• mantika (pang-gisa)
• butter o margarine
• 2 pirasong red chilies (hiniwa)
• ¼ tasang oyster sauce
• 4 kutsarang tubig
• asin at paminta
• parsley (pang-garnish)

Paano Lutuin:

1. Hugasan at ihanda ang mga tahong. Ilipat ang mga ito sa isang malalim na pot. Takpan ang pot at hayaang maluto ang mga ito ng ilang minuto.
2. Pagkatapos, ilipat ang mga tahong sa isang bowl. Alisin ang tahong mula sa mga shells. Hilahin ng dahan dahan ang “beard” ng bawat tahong para mas mukhang malinis. Gawin ang mga hakbang na ito sa lahat ng tahong. Isantabi.
3. Magpainit ng kawali at tunawin ang butter (o margarine). Magdagdag ng kaunting mantika at haluin ito. Sunod na idagdag ang hiniwang bawang. Igisa ito ng ilang minuto hanggang maging mabango. Idagdag ang mga tahong at igisa ito ng ilang minuto.
4. Timplahan ang mga tahong ng oyster sauce, kaunting tubig, asin, paminta, at siling labuyo depende sa kung gaano mo ito gusto kaanghang. Maglagay ng parsly sa ibabaw. Pagkatapos, patayin ang apoy.
5. Ilipat ang garlic buttered mussels sa isang serving plate. Papakin o samahan ito ng mainit na kanin. Yum!

Garlic Buttered Mussels is a culinary delight that combines the briny essence of the sea with the rich, savory allure of garlic and butter. These plump, tender morsels of ocean goodness are a seafood lover’s dream, offering a symphony of flavors and textures that dance on your palate. Whether served as an elegant appetizer, a satisfying main course, or a delectable addition to your seafood feast, garlic buttered mussels are a testament to the beauty of simplicity in cooking.