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Chicche with Cherry Tomatoes, Pesto and Mussels

17/11/2023

Chicche with cherry tomatoes, pesto, and mussels is a delicious dish that expertly blends the flavors of the sea with those of the land. A truly Italian dish with the fresh touch of Genoese pesto. Here is the recipe to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

  • 400 g of potato ‘chicche’ (small gnocchi)
  • 500 g of fresh mussels
  • 150 g of cherry tomatoes
  • 100 g of Genoese pesto
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • A bunch of fresh parsley
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning the mussels. Remove impurities from their surface and the beards, rinse them under running water, and set them aside.

  2. In a large pan, brown a clove of garlic with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add the mussels and cover the pan. Cook until the mussels have completely opened, then turn off the heat.

  3. Deglaze the mussels with a little white wine, and allow the alcohol to evaporate. Remove the mussels from their shells, keeping the filtered liquid that formed during cooking aside.

  4. In a separate pan, cut the cherry tomatoes in half and sauté them quickly with a drizzle of oil and another clove of garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  5. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, cook the potato ‘chicche’ following the package instructions and once cooked, drain them while keeping a little of the cooking water.

  6. Add the ‘chicche’ to the pan with the tomatoes, incorporate the pesto and a little of the ‘chicche’ cooking water to make everything creamier.

  7. Add the shelled mussels to the pan with the ‘chicche’, mixing gently.

  8. Finally, serve the ‘chicche’ with cherry tomatoes, pesto, and mussels hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley.

Curiosity

The “chicche”, endearingly referring to small gnocchi, can be homemade or purchased ready-made. The combination of pesto and mussels may not be traditional, but in this recipe, it highlights the perfect marriage between the intense flavors of basil and the delicate taste of mussels. This dish represents a great way to bring a touch of the sea into everyday cooking, combining typical elements from Ligurian and Mediterranean cuisine.

Chicche with Cherry Tomatoes, Pesto and Mussels