Lemon-Fennel Mussels

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots, (from 2 medium shallots)
• 1 very large or 2 small heads fennel, sliced 1/8 inch thick using a mandoline (about 2 cups)
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest, plus 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
• 1 1/2 cups dry white winte, such as sauvignon blanc
• 4 pounds mussel, scrubbed and beards removed
• 1 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus 3 tablespoons finely chopped stems

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oil in large Dutch oven or other heavy pot with a lid over medium heat. When hot, add shallots; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in fennel and 1 teaspoon salt. Season generously with pepper. Saute fennel until it begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Raise heat, and add lemon juice and wine. Bring to a boil, and cook until liquid is reduced by a quarter, about 2 minutes.

2. Stir in mussels, and cover. Cook mussels until they just open, stirring halfway through to move the ones at the bottom to the top, 4 to 6 minutes. Discard any mussels that haven't opened after 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. If serving immediately, stir in parsley; if serving at room temperature, let cool slightly before adding parsley.


*** Serve mussels with a grille baguette for sopping up the broth. The dish is excellent right of the stove or at room temperature.