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.

Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
Issue #120
As the days become shorter, and the nights cooler, the latest issue is perfectly timed to deliver delicious autumn dishes. From recipes using fresh seasonal produce such as feijoas and apples, to spectacular soothing soups and super-quick after-work meals in our Food Fast section, we’ve got you covered. With Easter on the horizon, we feature recipes that will see you through breakfast, lunch and dinner over a leisurely weekend holiday, and whip up chocolatey baking treats sure to please. We round up delicious dinners for two and showcase a hot new Korean cookbook before heading south to Dunedin to check out all that’s new in food and dining.The latest issue of dish is on sale NOW at all good bookstores and supermarkets – don’t miss it!