Weekend Kitchen | Mussels Italiano

I started the weekend early & unplugged on Friday. I kinda needed the break. And tomorrow Caroline comes home!! I'm totally missing her.

But I'm popping in to share one of latest favorite weekend recipes. I never, ever thought I would love mussels (I grew up not eating seafood at all) but they are now one of my favorite foods.

Plus they go great with white wine and bread - two of my other favorite foods.

After reading that mussels are low in calories and high in protein I bought 2lbs on a whim. I highly recommend cooking these up as soon after buying as possible. Keeping them a couple of days won't do your fridge any favors.

In my 4 o'clock dinner panic I did my usual online recipe searching, i.e., Googling "easy ___ recipe." The one that most closely matches the ingredients I have on hand is the winner!



Caroline wouldn't touch any of the "normal" stuff on her plate but she ate more than a dozen of these guys. She loved them!

And I have to show you the patented Gerber mussel technique. ;)


I definitely need to cook more seafood. I might try a whole fish next! Any tips??

Mussels Italiano

Recipe adapted from Food.com

What you need:

• 2 lbs mussels
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 onion, minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine

What to do:

Helpful Storage Tips: Immediately discard any mussels that are chipped, broken or open. If you are not cooking them right away, cover with damp paper towels in a container that can be tightly closed and store in the refrigerator.

1. Just before cooking, wash the mussels in several changes of cold water.

2. Melt butter in a medium sized pot; saute onions til clear.

3. Add garlic& stir for another minute.

4. Add tomato, oregano, salt & pepper and cook until tomato is soft.

5. Add wine & bring to a slow boil.

6. Put mussels into pot, cover & steam for 4 minutes; remove the lid & stir the mussels.

7. At this point, most of the mussels should be open; replace the lid and steam for another 2 - 4 minutes. Discard any that don't open.

8. Serve with bread to sop up the broth!