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Neapolitan-style Mussel Soup

17/11/2023

Neapolitan-style Mussel Soup is a classic dish from Neapolitan cuisine, highly appreciated for its seafood flavor and simplicity. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 kg of mussels
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • Parsley to taste
  • 400 g of peeled tomatoes
  • 1 spicy chili pepper (optional)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Homemade bread

Preparation

  1. Clean the mussels by removing the byssus (the filament that protrudes from the shell) and scrape away the impurities from the surface of the shells with a new brush or scouring pad. Then rinse them thoroughly under running water.

  2. In a large saucepan, fry the peeled garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil. If you like a bit of spice, you can also add the chopped chili pepper.

  3. Once the garlic has browned, add the crushed peeled tomatoes using a fork. Cook for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat.

  4. Add the mussels to the saucepan, cover with a lid, and turn up the heat. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, until all the mussels have opened.

  5. In the meantime, prepare slices of homemade bread and toast them lightly.

  6. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened and remove those that have opened from their shells, leaving some whole for presentation.

  7. Season with salt and add chopped parsley to taste.

  8. Serve the hot mussel soup accompanied by slices of toasted bread.

Fun Fact

This dish reflects the Neapolitan culinary philosophy of making the most of the sea’s bounty. Mussel soup was originally a poor man’s dish, mainly consumed by fishermen using what the day’s catch had offered. Over time, it has become a true symbol of Neapolitan home cooking, as well as a must in local fry shops, where it is served as a tasty street food.