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Fish, South and mountains

Brasucade mussels with grilled bread

Brasucade mussels with grilled bread is a dish of mussels opened over high heat with garlic, parsley and olive oil, served with grilled bread. It takes 30 minutes for 4 people, costs €3.20 per person, and is rated very easy. The key is high heat and shaking the pot so all the mussels open together.

Brasucade mussels, opened over high heat with olive oil, garlic and parsley, it's simple as can be and you eat it with your fingers.

Brasucade mussels with grilled bread
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
720 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Brasucade comes from the south of France, where fishermen traditionally open mussels straight over a wood fire, in their own juices, no fuss involved. Here a covered pot stands in for the campfire, but the spirit stays the same, the mussels open in their own seawater, seasoned with raw garlic and fresh parsley added at the last moment. You eat them with your fingers, dunking grilled bread into the leftover juices.

It's the perfect dish for a summer evening, at an outdoor table, with a green salad on the side to keep things light. Kids love shelling the mussels and dipping the bread, it's hands on and the meal always wraps up fast. You don't need any cooking skill, the hardest part is scrubbing the mussels well before you start.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Bouchot mussels 2 kg

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 5 cloves
  • Parsley 1 sprigs
  • Green salad 1

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • Vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Mollusks, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Scrub and rinse the mussels, discard any that stay open.

    Pull off the byssus, the little beard, with a sharp tug.

  2. Chop the garlic and parsley and mix them with the olive oil.

    Chop the parsley at the last moment so it stays green.

  3. Heat a large pot over high heat, add the mussels and cover. 8 min

    Shake the pot several times to spread the heat evenly.

  4. Drizzle the opened mussels with the garlic, parsley and oil mixture, and toss.

    Discard any mussels that stayed closed.

  5. Grill the bread, toss the salad with oil and vinegar, and serve it all together. 3 min

    The grilled bread soaked in the garlicky juices is the best part.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick mussels that are tightly closed and feel heavy for their size, a sign they're full of seawater.
  • Add the raw garlic and parsley at the end of cooking rather than the start, to keep their sharp, fresh flavor.
  • Save the cooking liquid at the bottom of the pot, it's what gives the grilled bread all its flavor.

The variations

  • Swap the parsley for fresh cilantro for a sharper flavor.
  • Add a few slices of chili pepper to the oil mixture if you like heat.
  • For kids in a hurry, shell the mussels before serving and cut the bread into dipping strips ahead of time.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with oil and vinegar
  • Grilled country bread
  • A glass of dry white wine

Storage

Cooked mussels keep for 1 day at most in the refrigerator, in a sealed container, and can be eaten cold in a salad the next day. They don't freeze well once cooked. Avoid reheating them, since they can easily turn rubbery.

Questions about this dish

How do you know if a mussel is good before cooking?

A fresh mussel is closed, or closes up when you tap it. Discard any that stay open or look cracked before cooking them.

Can you prepare brasucade ahead of time?

Not really, mussels are best eaten hot right after they open. You can, however, make the garlic, parsley and oil mixture ahead and keep it chilled.

Do mussels need to soak a long time before cooking?

A good scrub under cold water is enough, no need to soak them. Pull off the byssus, the little beard, with a sharp tug just before cooking.

What if some mussels stay closed after cooking?

Always throw away mussels that haven't opened after cooking, they're not safe to eat. It's normal to find a few among 2 kg.

How long does it take to make a brasucade of mussels with grilled bread?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a brasucade of mussels with grilled bread?

About 720 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a brasucade of mussels with grilled bread cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains mollusks, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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