Mussels Dijonnaise (Steamed Mussels with Mustard Sauce)
ChefJune
Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- 4
- Prep Time
- 10 Minutes
- Cook Time
- 20 Minutes
Turner Fisheries, a restaurant in the Westin Hotel in Boston, used to offer this dish as one of its regular specials. I liked to share a bucket with a friend, along with a delicious house salad and a bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay. These are so easy and delicious they've become a Friday night staple at Chez Julia.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onions
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- 3 quart mussels, beards removed, cleaned and scrubbed (but you can't do this in advance!)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 sprig fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard (I use Fallot)
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
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WHO: ChefJune is a chef and writer based in New York.
WHAT: A dish special enough for a dinner party, and quick enough for a Monday night.
HOW: Sauté onion and shallot, then get mussels steaming with wine, cream, and aromatics.
WHY WE LOVE IT: These mussels take us to a Paris bistro — and they get to the table in under twenty minutes. Add a loaf of crusty bread and a glass of wine, and we’re over the moon.
Directions
- Step 1
Heat the butter in a large saucepan until melted. Add the onions, shallots and garlic, and cook briefly, until wilted. Do not brown.
- Step 2
Add the mussels, salt, pepper, bay leaf, thyme, white wine, and cream. Cover closely and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes, shaking to redistribute the mussels. Cook until all the mussels are opened.
- Step 3
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the mussels to a serving bowl. Keep warm. Continue cooking the sauce for a minute, remove bay leaf and the thyme. Stir in the mustard with a wire whisk while heating. Do not boil.
- Step 4
Season sauce to taste with salt if necessary, then spoon equal portions of it over the mussels, and sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately with crusty bread.