Starters Recipes - Mussels in White Wine Recipe

Ingredients

• 50g/2oz butter

• 1 large onion (finely chopped)

• 2 garlic cloves (crushed)

• 350ml/12fl oz dry white wine

• 150ml/4 pt water

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• Salt and pepper

• 3.6 liters/6pt fresh mussels (cleaned)

• 1 tablespoon plain flour

• 4 tablespoons double cream

• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• Salt and pepper

Serves 4

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Method:

1. Melt half the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and fry gently until soft. Add the wine, water and lemon juice, and season well. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Add the mussels to the pan, cover and simmer for a further 5 minutes, shaking the pan frequently, until all the mussels have opened. Discard any mussels that have not opened. Remove the empty half shell from each mussel.

3. Blend the remaining butter with the flour and whisk into the soup, a little at a time. Simmer gently for 3 minutes.

4. Add the cream and half the parsley to the soup and reheat gently. Adjust the seasoning. After dishing up the soup, sprinkle with the remaining parsley and serve immediately.