Mussels in White Wine and Garlic Sauce – Moules au vin blanc à l’ail

Mussels in white wine and garlic is often included on a set lunch menu in cafes around France and particularly on the Brittany coast.  We have always found this meal to be great value usually with loads of crusty bread and a glass of wine included in the price.

Some of our best family memories are late summer dinners (often after 8.30pm) in our local town square of Guingamp soaking up the gentle relaxed ambience while getting stuck into hordes of mussels.  This meal is one of my favourite meals to eat in France and when at home in Australia it brings back memories of those lazy holiday evenings… and it’s so easy to prepare.

Suggestions For Serving Mussels

Having individual enamel pots for each guest certainly gives this meal a bit of added class.  Don’t forget to warm up all your serving pots while cooking your mussels in their large pan on the stove top, barbecue or even campfire.

I suggest having a bowl on the table for the shells if your serving pots don’t have their own deep lip for the shells. Napkins or serviettes are a must for sticky hands as you eat and dip your bread into the wine broth.

Ingredients for Mussels in White Wine and Garlic

Mussels

Unsalted butter

Fresh garlic crushed or very finely chopped

Dry white wine

Parsley – a must for us but do as you please with this ingredient

Grilled crusty bread and lemon wedges for serving

Method

Prepare the mussels as follows: rinse and scrub the mussels under cold water. Using your fingers or a paring knife, remove the beards (strings that hang from the mussel shells) and discard.

Melt butter (very generous amount) in a large stock pot or enamel pan over a medium heat and then add your garlic.  Let the garlic and butter sizzle for about 30 seconds.

Pour the white wine (very generous amount) into the pot/pan and season with freshly ground black pepper.

Put mussels directly into your pot/pan and give them a stir while it boils for 2 minutes.

Serve the mussels and their wine broth with grilled crusty bread and lemon wedges (and parsley).