Mussels Marinara (Quick and Easy Seafood Recipe)
Quick and flavorful, this Mussels Marinara recipe features fresh mussels in a rich tomato sauce with basil—perfect for weeknight dinners or special meals.
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 251kcal
Equipment
- Large wide pan
- Large bowl (for crushing tomatoes if using whole tomatoes)
- Wooden spoon
- Knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Large bowl (for cleaning mussels)
- Paper towels (for drying mussels)
- Lid for the pan
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh mussels cleaned
- 6 cloves garlic sliced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 28-ounce can of whole plum tomatoes, hand-crushed, or 1 (15-ounce) can of tomato puree
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the tomatoes: If using whole canned plum tomatoes, hand-crush them in a large bowl. If using tomato puree, simply open the can and set it aside.
- Sauté the garlic: Heat ¼ cup of olive oil in a large wide pan over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the 6 sliced garlic cloves and sauté for about 2 minutes until they turn lightly golden.
- Add the red pepper flakes: Stir in ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and cook for an additional 30 seconds to infuse the oil with a hint of heat.
- Deglaze with white wine: Increase the heat to high and pour in ½ cup of dry white wine. Let it boil for about 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Simmer the tomato sauce: Turn the heat down to medium and add the prepared hand-crushed tomatoes or the can of tomato puree to the pan. Stir the sauce and let it simmer gently for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Cook the mussels: Add the 2 pounds of cleaned mussels to the pan and stir them into the sauce. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for about 5 minutes. The mussels will begin to open as they cook.
- Discard unopened mussels: After 5 minutes, check the mussels. Discard any that remain closed as they are not safe to eat.
- Finish with fresh basil: Turn off the heat and taste the sauce. Adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. Stir in ¼ cup of chopped fresh basil for added fresh flavors.
- Serve: Serve the mussels in the flavorful tomato sauce with slices of crusty Italian bread to soak up the sauce.
Notes
- Cleaning mussels: Thoroughly scrub the mussels with cold water and remove any beards before cooking. Pat them dry with paper towels.
- Handling unopened mussels: Any mussels that do not open after 5-7 minutes of cooking should be discarded.
- Reheating: Reheat any leftovers gently in a saucepan over low heat rather than in the microwave to maintain the texture of the mussels.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 624mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 266IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 5mg