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Mussel Chowder

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Mussel ChowderRita Maas

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 1/4 hours

  • Yield

    Makes 8 first-course servings

Ingredients

4

1/2 lb mussels (preferably cultivated), cleaned and steamed , using half white wine and half water and reserving cooking liquid

2

medium leeks (white and pale green parts only), finely chopped

2

medium carrots, finely chopped

2

large orange bell peppers, finely chopped

1

large shallot, finely chopped

1

/2 teaspoon salt

1

/4 teaspoon black pepper

1

/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

2

tablespoons olive oil

2

large garlic cloves, minced

1

/2 cup dry white wine

1

/4 cup heavy cream

Accompaniment: crusty bread

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pour reserved mussel cooking liquid through a fine sieve lined with a dampened paper towel into a bowl. Set aside 24 mussels in their shells, then shuck remainder and halve them crosswise.

    Step 2

    Wash chopped leeks in a bowl of cold water, then lift out and drain well.

    Step 3

    Cook leeks, carrots, bell peppers, and shallot with salt and pepper in butter and oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, uncovered, stirring, 1 minute. Add strained mussel cooking liquid and wine and simmer 10 minutes.

    Step 4

    Stir in halved mussels and cream and simmer, stirring, 5 minutes. Add reserved mussels in their shells and simmer until just heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.