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Fish, South and mountains

Catalan style mussels with rice

Catalan style mussels with rice is a dish of mussels simmered in a sweet paprika tomato sauce with a touch of chili, served over white rice. This easy recipe serves 4, takes 40 minutes, and costs €3.40 per person. The key to success is a well seasoned sauce that opens the mussels quickly once it's boiling.

Off to Catalonia with mussels in a sweet paprika tomato sauce, and rice to soak it all up.

Catalan style mussels with rice
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.40
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall

These mussels skip the usual white wine and cream and simmer instead in a tomato sauce scented with sweet paprika and a touch of chili. Softened onion and garlic build a round, savory base, and plain white rice is the perfect sponge for soaking up all that sauce. The result is a colorful, sunny dish that's a nice change from classic fried mussels.

This is a summer or early fall recipe, easy enough for a weeknight and relaxed enough for a casual dinner with friends. Mon Chou takes care of the details, from fresh mussels to perfectly cooked rice, so all that's left for you to do is sit down and eat.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Mussels 2 kg

Pantry

  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 500 g
  • Sweet paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Chili flakesoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Parsley 5 sprigs

Allergens Mollusks

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil until translucent. 5 min

    Add the paprika at the end so it doesn't burn.

  2. Add the tomatoes and chili, season lightly with salt, and let it simmer. 15 min

    Mussels are naturally salty, so taste before adding more salt.

  3. Cook the rice in salted water. 11 min

    Drain it and keep it warm.

  4. Pour the washed mussels into the sauce, cover, and shake the pot. 6 min

    Discard any mussels that stay closed.

  5. Serve the mussels over the rice with parsley.

    Scoop up the sauce with bread.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick mussels that are tightly closed and smell like the sea, and discard any that stay open before cooking.
  • Let the tomato sauce reduce a bit before adding the mussels, it will taste more concentrated.
  • Shake the pot instead of stirring with a spoon, the shells open more easily without getting damaged.

The variations

  • Swap the sweet paprika for smoked paprika for a deeper, smokier sauce.
  • For a shellfish free version, replace the mussels with cubes of firm white fish cooked for a few minutes in the same sauce.
  • For kids, leave out the chili and serve the rice and tomato sauce on their own, with the mussels as a side for the adults.

What to serve it with

  • Crusty bread for the sauce
  • A simple green salad
  • A glass of dry white wine

Storage

Shelled mussels and their sauce keep for 1 day in the fridge in a sealed container, no longer since shellfish doesn't keep well. Reheat gently in a pot without letting it boil hard. Freezing isn't recommended once the mussels are cooked.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the tomato sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the paprika tomato sauce through step 2 several hours ahead. Bring it back to a boil before adding the fresh mussels.

How do you know if mussels are good before cooking?

Mussels should be closed, or close up when you tap them. Discard any that stay open or are cracked, since they aren't safe to cook.

Can you use a different chili instead of sweet chili?

Yes, a pinch of cayenne or Espelette pepper works well. Adjust the amount to taste, the sauce should stay lively without overpowering the mussels.

Do mussels need a long soak before cooking?

A quick rinse under cold water is enough, there's no need to soak them. Scrub the shells if needed and pull off any visible beards before cooking.

How long does it take to make Catalan style mussels with rice?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in Catalan style mussels with rice?

About 630 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 Catalan style mussels with rice cost?

About €3.40 per serving, or €13.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

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

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