Stuffed Mussels - Tapas

Open mussels still in half of their shell, filled with a mussel béchamel and topped with crumbs and baked till bubbling and crispy. Serve as part of a Tapas or antipasto.

Preparation time: 10 - 15 minutes   Quantity: Serves 3 - 4   Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Mussels -
450g / 1 lb. fresh shell on mussels
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion - finely diced
60 - 80 ml dry white wine
seasoning

Stuffing -
30g / 1 oz butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 onion - finely chopped
2 cloves garlic - crushed
2 level teaspoon plain flour
1 egg yolk - large
1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley - chopped
4 tablespoons breadcrumbs

Method

  • Wash the mussels, remove the beard by pulling off and scrub the shell - leave aside
  • Heat the olive oil
  • Cook of the onions to soften but without colour
  • Add the mussels
  • Stir for a minute to allow heat to penetrate the clams
  • Add the wine and cover the pan with a lid
  • Cook for a 4 -5 minutes or so until all the mussels are open
  • Drain and save the juices
  • Remove the top shell, set out the mussels in an ovenproof dish shell down - ready to stuff


For the stuffing -

  • Heat up the butter and oil in a pan
  • Sauté the onions and garlic till soft without browning
  • Add the flour and stir for half a minute
  • Add the mussel juice slowly to the flour mix, stirring all the time until the flour has absorbed the juice and all the juice has gone and the sauce thickened
  • Take of the heat and beat in the egg yolk and parsley
  • Stuff the mix using a teaspoon equally in to the open shells on top of the cooked mussels
  • Sprinkle on the breadcrumbs
  • Grill till golden brown