Mussel Escabeche
Photography by Manja Wachsmuth.
While fish is used traditionally in an escabeche, mussels are equally delicious. Serve as a snack with plenty of grilled bread or as part of a shared lunch.
Serves: 6–8 as a starter
INGREDIENTS
2 kilograms mussels, scrubbed
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Escabeche
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 carrot, thinly sliced
2 small bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, sliced
¼ teaspoon chilli flakes
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup white wine
zest and juice 1 orange
⅓ cup sherry vinegar or good red wine vinegar
To serve
grilled bread
METHOD
Put the mussels in a large saucepan with a splash of water. Cover tightly and cook over a high heat until the mussels have opened. Cool then remove the meat from the shell, checking for any small crabs. Discard the shells.
Escabeche: Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and add the onion, fennel, carrot, bay leaves, garlic, chilli and paprika. Cook until the vegetables are just starting to soften, but still a little firm.
Add the honey, wine, orange zest and juice and the vinegar. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the mussels. Remove from the heat.
Cool, then transfer to a bowl. Cover and chill for several hours, but preferably overnight, turning occasionally.
To serve: Stir in the parsley and serve with grilled bread.
Cook’s Tip: The escabeche will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
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