Segment: Caroline Taylor’s Bacon & Cider Mussels
Episode: S3E3
Presenter: Caroline Taylor
Air Date: 24th November 2019

Mussels are a fantastic sustainable seafood option, and this one-pot wonder is a great dish to cook over the summer months.

Ingredients

• 1.5kg mussels
• 200g bacon, cut into lardons
• 3 cloves of garlic, finely diced
• 2 tablespoon salted butter
• 100ml olive oil
• 250 ml apple cider
• 100g crème fraiche
• 1 small bunch spring onion
• ½ teaspoon sea salt & cracked black pepper
• Fresh crust bread

Recipe

• Clean mussels with cold water, scrubbing where necessary, then pull the beards out by pulling down quickly towards the smallest part of the mussel. Set them aside.
• Use a pot big enough to fit all the mussels, and with a lid, sauté the garlic in the butter and oil until translucent.
• Add the bacon and render out for 2-3 minutes.
• Add half the cider to the pot and then crank up the heat with the lid on (about 2-3 minutes)
• Once steaming, add all the mussels and the rest of the cider and place the lid back on.
• Cook mussels for 3-4 minutes until they are all open. If they don’t open, they may just need a bit longer – you’ll be able to tell a bad mussel from the smell.
• Once the mussels have opened, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the liquid and place into a bowl. Turn the flame down to a low simmer and add crème fraiche to the liquid and stir through, reducing until slightly thickened. Season to taste.
• Pour the liquid over the mussels, sprinkle spring onions over the top and serve with crusty warm bread.