Description
This Speedy Mussels with Pasta recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring fresh mussels cooked in a garlic, white wine, and chicken broth sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a delightful seafood meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, offering a satisfying combination of tender mussels, aromatic herbs, and a light, tangy sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 1 lb fresh mussels, cleaned and debearded
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then set both aside.
- Sauté garlic and spices: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), sautéing for about 1 minute until the garlic becomes fragrant but not browned.
- Steam the mussels: Add the cleaned mussels to the skillet and pour in the white wine and chicken broth. Cover the skillet and let the mussels cook for 5-7 minutes, or until all the mussels have opened. Discard any mussels that remain closed after cooking.
- Toss pasta with mussels: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet containing the mussels. Toss everything together gently to combine, adding some of the reserved pasta water as needed to create a light, flavorful sauce that coats the pasta and mussels.
- Finish with lemon and parsley: Stir in the lemon juice and chopped fresh parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, mixing well to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Serve: Serve the dish immediately, garnished with additional parsley and lemon wedges if desired, for a fresh and vibrant presentation.
Notes
- Make sure to use fresh, live mussels and discard any that remain closed after cooking to ensure safety and quality.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter flavor or to make the dish pescatarian-friendly.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level or omit them for a milder dish.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency; it helps bind the sauce and pasta together better.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
