Tarantina style mussels

Tarantina style mussels are a delicious dish from Puglian culinary tradition, which combines the taste of the sea with a simple and flavored sauce. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 1 kg of mussels
• 400 g of peeled tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• A bunch of chopped parsley
• Chili pepper to taste (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Toasted bread to serve

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the mussels well under running water, removing the external residues and pulling out the byssus threads protruding from the shell.
2. In a large, suitable skillet, add a drizzle of oil and the garlic cloves peeled (you can leave them whole to be removed later or mince them finely if you prefer a stronger garlic flavor).
3. Add the peeled tomatoes, which you can crush with a fork or cut into small pieces. If you are using chili pepper, now is the time to add it.
4. Let it sauté briefly, then add the mussels and cover the skillet.
5. Let them cook for about 5-10 minutes, until the mussels have opened, releasing their cooking liquid, which will combine with the sauce. During cooking, occasionally shake the skillet to mix.
6. Once all the mussels are opened (discard any that remained closed), add the chopped parsley and adjust for salt.
7. Mix well and serve hot, accompanied by toasted bread or bruschettas to soak up the sauce.

Trivia

Tarantina style mussels are an ancient dish, whose name derives from the city of Taranto in Puglia, known for being an important Mediterranean port for centuries and for the quality of its seafood. The success of this dish is given by the perfect combination of the bold flavor of the mussels and the freshness of the tomato and parsley.

It’s a simple dish with noble origins, which carries the flavor and tradition of a region with a strong maritime identity. Bon appétit!