Golden Mussel Chowder Recipe

Golden Mussel Chowder Recipe Photo: Mark Roper
Greg and Lucy Malouf•

As we mentioned earlier, we're just a month out from Thanksgiving. Whoa. Every weekday afternoon between now and Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, we'll feature a recipe that can add another dimension to your holiday table, or make you The Man if you're just bringing a dish to a gathering.

A Middle Eastern take on a New England classic, Golden Mussel Chowder is a great first course for any special occasion dinner. Using ground turmeric in the spice blend as well as roasting saffron threads briefly and crushing them before adding them to the soup contribute to the dish's golden color and exotic flavor palette. The caramelized bacon adds a sweet, crisp and smoky note without taking center stage.

Golden Mussel Chowder Recipe
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Prep Time
1.5
hours
Cook Time
1.33
hours
Servings
4
to 6
Golden Mussel Chowder Recipe
Total time: 2 hours, 50 minutes
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds mussels
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon golden spice mix (see below)
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 2 small leeks
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • rind of one preserved lemon
  • 10 saffron threads
  • 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
  • 2 medium tomatoes
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 slices bacon
  • light brown sugar
  • thin rounds of crispy fried leek
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 tablespoon chili powder
Directions
  1. Scrub the mussels clean and pull off the beards. Discard any mussels that refuse to close after a sharp tap.
  2. In a heavy-based saucepan, sauté the onion, celery, garlic and golden spice mix in the olive oil for about a minute, then add the wine and the mussels.
  3. Cover, turn the heat up and steam for 3 minutes. Turn the mussels well, replace the lid and steam for a further two minutes or until the mussels have opened.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to steam for a further minute before taking off the lid and straining the liquor through a fine sieve to catch any dirt. Reserve the liquor.
  5. Throw any unopened mussels back into the pot and steam for another minute or two. Discard any that stubbornly refuse to open. Allow the mussels to cool, and then remove them from their shells and cut in half.
  6. Steam the potatoes and whole leeks for 10-15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a few minutes. Split the leegs in half lengthwise, then cut them into 1/2-inch slices.
  7. Return the mussel liquor to the pot, add the cream and bring to a boil Add the potatoes, leeks and preserved lemon (or zest) then the saffron and thyme. Heat thoroughly.
  8. Add the diced tomatoes and mussels and warm through briefly. Season with pepper.
  9. Sprinkle the bacon liberally with brown sugar and fry until golden brown. Shred and sprinkle on the soup and garnish with the crisp fried leeks. 
 
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