These Creamy Garlic Fennel Steamed Mussels are a simple 30-minute meal! Cooked in an aromatic garlic, fennel, and cream broth, these steamed mussels are a quick and delicious dish for any occasion.
Steamed Mussels is one of the most popular dishes in France. I first visited this beautiful country back in the mid-2000’s. We arrived in Paris at noon and we were starving. Our first stop was Parisian Brasserie. Just looking at the menu made us drool. But being unfamiliar with French cuisine, we proceeded with ordering familiar dishes. From the corner of my eye I noticed that many folks at that restaurant were ordering large pots of “something”. Based on the frequency the waiter with the pots passed by our table, that “something” was obviously pretty popular. Fast forward, several restaurants later, we discovered that steamed mussels were the main ingredient inside those pots and immediately placed an order for them. I have to tell you, it was probably my first time eating mussels in a shell, but boy, were they good. I couldn’t wrap my head around how such a simple ingredient can be prepared in such a delicious way. Since then, steamed mussels have become a regular restaurant order for us.
Creamy Garlic Fennel Steamed Mussels
Steamed Mussels are especially popular in coastal France. While in Normandy, we observed a lovely scene; a lot of people camped out by the rocky Atlantic shore. Those rocks were abundant with mussels so every day the campers would go there to pick out mussels and prepare a quick seafood meal right by their tent. No need to go to a restaurant. Simple and delicious!
Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite Steamed Mussels recipe. It’s really simple, but the flavor of the dish is unbelievable. Just imagine, hearty mussels that are infused with an aromatic fennel and cream broth. If you have a date night at home or just want to throw a fancy dinner, give these mussels a try! They’re so good, you’ll be making them again.
Fill up a glass of wine, get some crusty bread to dip into the broth, and enjoy a timeless French classic that always tastes great.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds fresh mussels, rinsed and open shells discarded
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 fennel bulb, halved and thinly sliced (fronds removed)
- 3/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley, finely minced (optional)
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook for a minute. Don't allow it to burn. Add fennel and cook for 5 minutes or until softened.
- Pour in white wine and cook for 7 minutes until alcohol evaporates.
- Add cream, salt, and pepper, and bring it to a boil.
- Add mussels, cover with a lid, and cook for 5 minutes until the mussels open.
- Discard any unopened mussels.
- Sprinkle mussels with parsley and serve immediately with crusty bread.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Home Chef Tip. You can make the recipe less calorie dense by using Half and Half instead of the cream.
We hope you love these Creamy Garlic Fennel Steamed Mussels from SoFabFood Home Chef, Iryna from Lavender and Macarons, as much as we do. If you love this delightful recipe, stop by our 30-Minute Meals section to find more like it. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so that you never miss a single recipe, and for daily recipe inspiration, like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
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