Gratinated Mussels

Gratinated mussels are a delight for the palate, perfect as an appetizer or a main course of seafood. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 1 kg of mussels
• Breadcrumbs
• Fresh parsley
• 1 clove of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Black pepper (optional)
• 1 lemon (sliced, for serving)

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the mussels well: Remove the encrustations and the filaments that protrude from the shells. Rinse them under cold running water and let them drain well.
2. In a large pan, open the mussels over high heat, covered, shaking the pan from time to time. It will take about 5 minutes.
3. Once all the mussels have opened, remove them from the heat and let them cool. Take the mussels, shell them leaving the mollusk attached to only one valve and arrange them on a tray.
4. In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with finely chopped garlic, chopped parsley, and a bit of pepper, if you like. Dress the mixture with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until you get a mixture that is moist but not too oily.
5. Distribute a tablespoon of the flavored breadcrumb mixture onto each mussel.
6. Preheat the oven to grill mode.
7. Place the mussels on the baking tray under the grill for about 2-5 minutes, or until the breading becomes golden brown and crunchy. Be careful not to burn them.
8. Serve the gratinated mussels hot with slices of lemon on the side.

Curiosity

Gratinated mussels have humble origins, born as a dish from maritime tradition. Often cooked by fishermen with what they had on board the vessels, they have become a refined and much-loved dish, often found on the menus of seaside restaurants.