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Sake Steamed Mussels

February 28, 2013

I'm obsessed with mussels and have been for years. Back before we had kids and traveling was still something my husband and I actually did, I would drag him to restaurants all across the globe to eat mussels prepared in the local fashion. Closer to home, two of my favorite local mussel spots have sadly closed and so I've started making them at home.

For a mom that adores mussels so much, why I never made them for my kids before is beyond me. It's probably for the same reason a lot of parents don't make or order them for kids. They just seem like an odd food -- possibly even too gourmet -- and it's hard to imagine kids enjoying them. My mother, for one, has told me she never would have dreamed of offering them to me when I was little. Yet on the other hand, when I go to my friend Jackie's house, her three young kids can't get enough of her homemade mussels.

Mussels are sold at our local farmers market, so last summer when one of my frequent cravings arose I bought a big bag and decided to try making them for the kids. I expected the worst and that's exactly what I got at first. Kenya started in immediately with cries of, "eww gross". Chloe followed her brother's lead but after watching hubby and I enjoying one after the other couldn't resist having a go. Minutes later we were all sitting outside like a bunch of shellfish savages, hunched over a big bowl devouring mussels.

Recently I got Steamy Kitchen's Healthy Asian Favorites cookbook and I ripped it open and immediately began drooling over the recipes and images. I've been a fan of Jaden Hair and her Steamy Kitchen website for years. I not only consider her a friend, but a true inspiration. We try to eat as healthily as possible and my kids are taken with Asian flavors so it seemed like it was written just for us.

The second I saw the picture for Jaden's mussels recipe I knew it was the first one I was going to try. I picked up a pound (which Kenya later told me wasn't enough) and in less then 5 minutes I had prepared a huge bowl full of mussels that the kids ate so fast I barely got my hands on any. I've made three more recipes since then and they've all been a huge hit too.

I want you to have the opportunity to dig into Jaden's new book, so I'm giving away two copies. Simply leave me a comment below and you're entered to win!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners!
Jennifer Li
Kate Edenborg

For a chance to win one of two (2) Steamy Kitchen Healthy Asian Favorites, leave a comment below!
Duration: This giveaway is open to readers in the United States and will be open until Thursday, March 7th, 2013 11:59pm PST
How Winner Will Be Chosen: The two (2) winners will be chosen at random and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to me, or a new winner will be chosen.
Fine Print: Weelicious is hosting this giveaway so you can experience these products for yourself. I am in no way being compensated for this giveaway.

Bonus Entries (for another chance at winning!):
1. Join weelicious on Facebook. Leave a separate comment below letting us know you're a weelicious fan on Facebook .
2. Follow weelicious on Twitter. Leave a separate comment below letting us know you follow us.
3. Follow weelicious on Pinterest and/or pin this giveaway. Leave a separate comment here letting us know you followed and/or pinned.

Sake-Steamed Mussels  (serves 4 )

  • Prep Time:5 minutes,
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes,
  • Total Time: 12 minutes,

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups sake or dry white wine
  • 2 teaspoons peeled and finely grated fresh ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 1 shallot, sliced into thin rings
  • 2 pounds fresh mussels
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

  1. 1. Heat a large soup pot over over high heat and add the sake, ginger, garlic and shallots. Bring to a boil.
  2. 2. Add the mussels, cover, and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mussels open.
  3. 3. Toss in the basil and cilantro and serve immediately.

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Comments

  1. allyson

    March 2, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    Love mussels….got me craving them! Would love a new cookbook to inspire me!

  2. amdmbmee

    March 2, 2013 at 7:04 pm

    We love Asian food and I’m always looking for healthy recipes to make at home!

  3. Susie

    March 2, 2013 at 5:54 pm

    Yum, mussels! We’ve loved them since we had our pre-kid trip to Brussels. Thanks for the great recipe!

  4. mia

    March 2, 2013 at 4:59 pm

    Learned to love mussels in Naples, Italy. Hope the book inspires me to love Asian food even more than we already do!

  5. Kelly G

    March 2, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    The mussels look great. I can’t wait to try and make them.

  6. lynn @ the actor's diet

    March 2, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    have always loved your site and was too shy to introduce myself at todd/diane’s party. i’d love to win jaden’s book (who i probably would be too shy to meet too)

  7. Erin

    March 2, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    I’d love to win Jaden’s new book — we love the original!

  8. Karla

    March 2, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    This type of stuff scares me, but I love your cookbook and would love to try a cookbook you recommend as well. Thank you.

  9. Mollie

    March 2, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    I would love to start introducing my daughter to Asian flavors. My husband and I love Asian inspired food!

  10. Shannon

    March 2, 2013 at 7:48 am

    Looks like a great cookbook!

  11. Sadie

    March 2, 2013 at 12:40 am

    I’ll have to try this with my girl.

  12. alison

    March 1, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    ok! now THIS is something new and exciting to try. i love exposing the kids to new tastes and textures. thanks for the inspiration. i can’t tell you how many of your recipes we’ve made over the now 2.5 years since my daughter was born. All of them are fantastic and some are favorites “go to” recipes i make all the time.

  13. Amanda Bradley

    March 1, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    I would love to have this and promise to cook with confidence!

  14. Corey Higgins

    March 1, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    Perfect addition to my kitchen’s arsenal.

  15. Shuli

    March 1, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    I can’t wait to make all your recipes for my daughter… She’s almost 4 months.

  16. Joan

    March 1, 2013 at 8:02 pm

    I have her first cookbook and would love the oppoturnity to win the second. Recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.

  17. Stephanie C Wilson

    March 1, 2013 at 7:35 pm

    I love new recipes! Just what I need to keep dinner fresh!

  18. madipak

    March 1, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Love your recipes!!! And would love to win this book!

  19. Christa P

    March 1, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    Yummy! My husband lover mussels!

  20. laura

    March 1, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    we have just started steaming mussels at home and have made them twice in the last month alone. can’t wait to try this version!

  21. Hanima

    March 1, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Hi Catherine!

    I bought your Weelicious cookbook a few months ago. Since then your Chinese chicken with orange sauce has been a big hit. My daughters love watching the videos of you making food with your children.

  22. christina brioso

    March 1, 2013 at 11:47 am

    this would be so so cool to win, especially since my family and I love asian food, all there is though are the chinese takeout and restaurants that we can get that cuisine at, and even my college was handing out chinese takeout the other day and I am so sick of all the greasy fried options.

  23. Adrienne G.

    March 1, 2013 at 10:27 am

    Would love to win this cookbook!

  24. MK

    March 1, 2013 at 10:21 am

    hope the book has vegetarian recipes

  25. MK

    March 1, 2013 at 10:20 am

    hope the book has vegetarian recipes!