277 16

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.

Related Recipes

Comments

  1. trish

    February 28, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    mussels are my favorite food!! We have them all the time and live on the water so we are able to get them fresh off the rocks, I am always looking for new ideas on how to serve them. Trying this tomorrow night. Thank you!

  2. evelyn wong

    February 28, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Thank you for the recipes.. I am from singapore. My family love asian food alot.. everyday I have trying to crack my head what to cook for them. Plus I have 2 children.. I am always into cooking healthy food for them.

  3. Greta

    February 28, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    Looks yummy! What would you serve with these? Toasted bread? Rice?

    • catherine

      March 5, 2013 at 11:12 am

      Definitely some crusty bread!

  4. Thao Tran

    February 28, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    The mussels recipe looks so delish, & mussels paired with basil is an EXCELENT choice. I check out your recipes everyday to get inspiration on what to make for my kids. I would LOVE to make some of the great recipes from this book for my kids to try.

  5. elaine

    February 28, 2013 at 6:02 pm

    Looks delicious and I love asian food and so does my children. Elaine

  6. elaine

    February 28, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    Love what you have provided for a mom of two young ones.
    Elaine

  7. Sunni

    February 28, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    My family loves Asian foods so this cook book looks wonderful!

  8. Kristen Rothwell

    February 28, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    Thanks for the recipe, always looking for new foods and flavors to introduce

  9. Karen

    February 28, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    I love mussels, and have made them at home several times. I like the Asian spin on this recipe. The best part of mussels for me is usually some crusty bread to soak up the yummy broth! Oh, and one thing you may want to mention, since so many readers are commenting that they’ve never cooked them before but will try this recipe, is to definitely not eat any that don’t open on their own when they are steamed. If the shell is still tightly closed, throw them out!

  10. Katie W.

    February 28, 2013 at 5:10 pm

    I love mussels but woul dnever have the courage to make them.. This gives me inspiration!

  11. Marcia A.

    February 28, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    I am fortunate to have a husband who cooks mussels from time to time. I’d love to get some new ideas for how I can fix them myself!

  12. erin

    February 28, 2013 at 4:42 pm

    All of your recipes are so fun. Thank you for all that you do!

  13. Nina

    February 28, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    I’m picking up a bag of mussels today and trying this dish for my girls. I hope I’m not eating alone!

  14. Tab

    February 28, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    Ever had the “Angry Mussels” at JCT Kitchen in Atlanta? Mussels, bacon, serrano chilis, and onion… OH MY! YUM! I think they were on one of the “Best Thing I ever Ate” on Food Network.

  15. Myrtle

    February 28, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    I’ve never tried mussels at home either. Wonder why not?
    This recipe sounds great.

  16. Christine Berry

    February 28, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    This sounds absolutely fabulous!!

  17. irina

    February 28, 2013 at 4:17 pm

    Sounds delicious!

  18. Jacqui

    February 28, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    My daughter is 16 months and has recently had her first experience with the asian cuisine. Let me be the first to tell you she ABSOLUTELY loved it! I’ve been on a mad HUNT trying to find a decent health-concious cookbook, it would mean the WORLD to me if i recieved one of these books :D

  19. Natalie S

    February 28, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    I would love to win this cookbook!

  20. Shannon

    February 28, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    This looks so yummy! I’ll definitely be making this for my family soon! Thanks for all the great recipes and giveaways!

  21. Shashi

    February 28, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Sake makes everything tasty! :)

  22. Christy G

    February 28, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    This looks great. Would love to try some of the recipes!

  23. Stephanie

    February 28, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    My 5 year old twins love to cook and this sounds like a great cookbook!

    Would love to make the recipes out of it!! :)

  24. Lori Kenney

    February 28, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    Mmmm, Asian food! Not sure about trying mussels though.

  25. Bill C.

    February 28, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    Asian cookbook? Sounds good to me!