Sake-steamed Mussels

This is something sort of different for us. I’ve never cooked mussels before, but when I was choosing a recipe to make from Steamy Kitchen’s new book, I felt like trying something outside my comfort zone. I also knew Jack would never expect this, and I like to surprise him every now and then.

Surprise… mussels are so easy. 6 ingredients and about 5 minutes later we had perfectly steamed mussels in a fancy aromatic sake broth. I made some soba noodles to go along with them (and to soak up more of the broth – no sake goes to waste in our house).

Some other recipes from the book I’m excited to try are: sriracha sauce (as in – not from the bottle), blackened tofu with ginger ponzu-sauce, and the kimchi omelet.

the giveaway is now over


From Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites by Jaden Hair

sake-steamed mussels

 
Author:
Serves: serves 4 as an appetizer
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds fresh mussels
  • 11/2 cups sake or dry white wine
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 shallot, sliced into very thin rings
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves
  • salt
Instructions
  1. Scrub the mussels under cool water, discarding any with broken or cracked shells.
  2. Heat a large sauté pan, deep soup pot, or wok over high heat with the sake, ginger, garlic, and shallots. When the mixture comes to a boil, add the mussels and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the mussels open.
  3. Toss in the basil and serve immediately.

Reprinted with permission from Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites by Jaden Hair, copyright © 2013. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc.

 

146 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Laksa soup, without a doubt, is my favorite asian dish is .. I love all the sweet and spicy curries in Thai food! That with a few dumplings is the best rainy day dish ever

  2. I think my absolute favorite has to be pad thai. Oh, the peanut-y delicious flavors! It will always make me think of my honeymoon when I first tried it.

  3. Natalie from pinterest.com
    02.13.2013

    Favorite Asian dish would have to be the lemongrass marinated chicken & grapefruit salad at my favorite Vietnamese place, Eastborough (Costa Mesa, CA). My husband loves their lemongrass marinated pork bahn mi. We drive a hour and a half from San Diego just for the incredible food there! Here is a picture of our aforementioned favorites. You have to check it out if you’re ever in the vicinity!

    http://instagram.com/p/UZ2EOIswsp/

    • jeanine
      02.13.2013

      Wow, and hour and a half, love the commitment! I’ll be sure to check it out next time I’m out that way… Lovely photos…

  4. Heather
    02.12.2013

    My favorite is Singapore chili crab!

  5. Michael from derbiokoch.de
    02.12.2013

    I love thai basil. Thanks for the recipe 😉

  6. Justina from onedomesticgoddess.wordpress.com
    02.12.2013

    Oh, everything Asian except for Korean food. I’m just not a big fan of Kimchi. My favorite is Vietnamese noodles with pork. I love the idea of healthy Asian food. Traditional Asian food seems a little deceptive with the amount of sodium, sugar, and msg.

  7. Elle
    02.12.2013

    oh my, anything with ginger really :’)

  8. Katriona Guthrie-Honea
    02.12.2013

    I love miso soup with udon noodles. My mother always used to make it for me when I was sick (I ate all the noodles out of it, but shhh. Don’t tell) No whenever I have it it helps me feel better because I think of her

    • jeanine
      02.13.2013

      such a sweet story. I love to eat miso soup when I’m not feeling well too.

  9. Joan
    02.12.2013

    Korean food but I love all Asian food. Love kimchee and also love sushi.

  10. Karin
    02.12.2013

    I love any/all dumplings and almost any dimsum – love fried turnip cakes.

  11. Lara
    02.12.2013

    I really love eggplant curry with red rice + home made coconut icecream.

  12. dani from goldenbrownblog.wordpress.com
    02.12.2013

    Terriyaki Tri Tip. My family’s signature dish 🙂

  13. Molly
    02.12.2013

    Eek, choose just one Asian dish?! Probably pho. Or anything Japanese. Or Indian.

    • jeanine
      02.13.2013

      I know, that was a broad question. I wouldn’t be able to choose just one myself 🙂

  14. I love making a simple sauce that can be used on a multitude of noodle dishes: braggs liquid aminos or soy sauce with lime and some brown sugar + siracha for spice. Yum!!! Also love Tom Yum soup 🙂

  15. Nicole from pudgeandnico.com
    02.12.2013

    Vietnamese food in general, but especially pho and banh mi! We even served banh mi at our wedding three years ago!

    • jeanine
      02.13.2013

      sounds like a good wedding!

  16. Katya
    02.12.2013

    A chicken pad thai is my favorite. Always seek out for a unique version of it when out.

  17. terya
    02.12.2013

    Anything Thai curry, anything Japanese, except Natto, Southeast asian flavors are fantastic! There isn’t much I turn down!

  18. Heidi Hess
    02.12.2013

    Korean food in general but my heart belongs to dol sot bop.

  19. Megan McMullen
    02.12.2013

    Oh, this looks delicious!

    As for favorites: Pho, Pho, and more more Pho! A good somtum salad is exquisite and elegant. Delicately sauteed bok choy. Bibimbap, bulgogi, and bahn mi sandwiches. Pumpkin curry. Hot noodle soup off the streets of Bangkok for breakfast. Skewered and grilled meats with bright dipping sauces. The list could go on and on.

    I’m hungry!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.