Description
A quick and flavorful recipe for Speedy Mussels with Pasta, combining fresh mussels cooked in a savory garlic, white wine, and chicken broth sauce, tossed with your choice of pasta and finished with fresh parsley and lemon juice. Perfect for a delicious seafood dinner ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood and Pasta
- 1 lb fresh mussels, cleaned and debearded
- 8 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
Sauce and Seasoning
- 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
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Prepare the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to help make the sauce later.
- Sauté garlic and spices: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic becomes fragrant but not browned.
- Cook mussels: Add the cleaned mussels to the skillet and pour in the white wine and chicken broth. Cover the skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the mussels have all opened. Discard any mussels that remain closed after cooking.
- Toss pasta with mussels: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the cooked mussels. Toss gently to combine, adding some of the reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta.
- Finish with lemon and parsley: Stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley. Season the dish with salt and black pepper to your taste.
- Serve immediately: Plate the mussels and pasta right away, optionally garnishing with additional parsley and lemon wedges for extra freshness.
Notes
- Make sure to clean and debeard the mussels thoroughly before cooking to remove any sand or grit.
- Use dry white wine for the best flavor; vermouth or a mild white wine works well as a substitute.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Reserve some pasta water as it helps to create a silky sauce that coats the pasta and mussels perfectly.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
