A Classic Mediterranean Diet Favourite
Mussels marinara is a classic Italian dish that is so quick and easy to make, and the flavour is incredible and this mussel marinara recipe is very easy to produce. Mussels are simmered in a tangy marinara sauce, scented with basil and garlic. After they’ve soaked up the marinara flavour, they’re served over al dente bucatini pasta. It’s one of those recipes that’s much fancier than the effort involved, you can make it in under 30 minutes.
The Secret Of a Great Mussels Marinara Recipe
Mussels marinara has just a few simple components. Like any good Italian food, with simplicity you must use the highest quality ingredients. Here are the secrets behind a great mussels marinara:
- A fantastic marinara sauce. This recipe uses an easy marinara sauce, which has just a few quality ingredients. Using fire roasted tomatoes is a must: they’re easily available at most grocery stores or online. Their sweet flavour makes it easy to whip up this marinara in a flash, along with fresh basil and balsamic vinegar.
- Fresh mussels. You’ll also want the best quality mussels for this recipe. Make sure to use a vendor that you trust.
- Bucatini or spaghetti. The difference between bad and good pasta is easy to taste! Use a brand of pasta you trust.
How to clean mussels
The only part of this mussel marinara recipe that requires technique is cleaning mussels. Here are the basic steps for how to clean mussels:
- Rinse them. Place the mussels in a colander and rinse them with cool water. Use your hands to rub off any debris.
- Test any open shells. Find any mussels with an open shell and tap them against the sink. If the shell closes, it’s alive and good for cooking; if the shell stays open, discard it.
- Remove the beards. The beard is a clump of fibers attached to the mussel shell (it looks like a little rope hanging off). Often mussels come already debearded. But if you see beards, remove them by pulling them off with your fingers.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re good to go. A background read to the Marinara sauce.
Mussels Marinara Recipe with Olive Oil
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Easy Marinara Sauce (28 ounces)
- 8 ounces spaghetti or bucatini pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds mussels
Instructions
- Start the Easy Marinara Sauce
- Clean the mussels (see the section above).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until it is al dente (start tasting a few minutes before the package recommends: you want it to be tender but still a little firm on the inside). Then drain.
- After the marinara sauce has simmered for 15 minutes, add the mussels and cook covered over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until they open. Stirring several times.
- To serve, place pasta in a dish and spoon mussels and marinara over the pasta. Garnish with chopped basil and a drizzle of Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil.
