Stuffed Mussels

Ingredients

24 large live mussels, de-bearded and cleaned
1 large banana shallot, finely chopped
70g/2½oz unsalted butter, softened
50ml/2fl oz dry vermouth
2 garlic cloves, crushed
30-40 walnut halves, smashed or chopped into small pieces
1 lemon, juice and zest
25g/1oz parmesan, grated
50g/2oz fresh breadcrumbs
2 tbsp very finely chopped parsley
½ tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon
freshly ground black pepper
rock salt

Method

1. Preheat the grill to a moderate heat. Discard any mussels that are broken or that don’t close when tapped. Place the good mussels into a large pan with a splash of boiling water and cover with a tightly fitting lid. Cook over a high heat for two minutes or until the mussels have just opened then pour them into a large colander and leave to cool.

2. In a small pan, soften the shallot in about one third of the butter then add the vermouth. Cook until the vermouth has evaporated then pour the mixture into a large bowl.

3. Combine the rest of the ingredients and the remaining butter with the shallots in the bowl and season with plenty of freshly ground black pepper.

4. Remove and discard the top shells of the mussels. Add a teaspoon of the stuffing to each mussel and arrange them on a large baking tray. Place under the grill for 2-3 minutes or until the stuffing is golden-brown and bubbling. Transfer the mussels to a plate and scatter generously with rock salt to keep them stable. Eat with additional lemon if desired.