Mussel Toasts with Pickled-Carrot-and-Coriander Butter

  • 6
  • 80 mins

Ingredients

  • 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 medium carrot, very thinly sliced
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • 24 large mussels, scrubbed and debearded
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced chives
  • Six 2-by-3-inch rectangles of country bread, toasted
  • 6 paper-thin slices of lardo (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

In a saucepan, toast the coriander seeds over low heat until fragrant. Add the vinegar, sugar, salt and 1/4 cup of water and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the brine is warm. Stir in the carrot slices and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain the carrot, reserving the pickling liquid. Transfer the carrot and 1 tablespoon of the pickling liquid to a blender. Add the butter and cilantro and puree. Pass the butter through a fine sieve into a bowl and season with salt.

In a saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Add the mussels, cover and cook just until they open. Drain and remove the mussels from their shells. In a bowl, toss the mussels with the olive oil and chives.

Spread some of the carrot butter on the toasts. Top with the mussels, drape the lardo on top and serve.