Spaghetti with Mussels and Sea Urchins

Here is the recipe for preparing delicious Spaghetti with Mussels and Sea Urchins, a dish that combines the flavors of the sea in a refined and tasty pairing.

Ingredients

• 320 g of spaghetti
• 500 g of mussels
• 100 g of sea urchin pulp
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh parsley to taste
• 100 ml of dry white wine
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Begin by cleaning the mussels: remove any impurities on the shell with a sponge or brush and remove the byssus, the filamentous part coming out of the shell. Rinse them thoroughly under running water.
2. In a large pan, sauté the chopped garlic (and chili pepper if desired) in extra virgin olive oil. When the garlic is golden, add the mussels and deglaze with white wine. Cover with a lid and cook for about 5 minutes or until all the mussels have opened.
3. In the meantime, cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted water, following the cooking times on the package to achieve an al dente texture.
4. While the pasta is cooking, remove the mussels from their shells, keeping some whole for the final decoration of the dish. Strain the cooking liquid from the mussels through a fine sieve and set aside.
5. When the pasta is ready, drain it and transfer it into the pan with the mussel sauce. Add the sea urchin pulp and gently mix to combine the ingredients.
6. Add a sprinkling of freshly chopped parsley and, if necessary, some of the mussel cooking liquid to properly bind the spaghetti.
7. Serve the spaghetti garnished with the mussels you set aside and an additional sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Be mindful that the sea urchins are only added at the end of cooking to not alter their delicate flavor.

Curiosity

This dish has Mediterranean origins and celebrates the unique flavor of seafood. The sea urchin is often considered a luxury ingredient, valued for its intense and slightly sweet taste that pairs perfectly with the stronger flavor of the mussels.