Mussels in white wine sauce with garlic butter toasts

• sourdough bread↗4 slices slices
• olive oil↗1 tbsp tbsp
• knob of butter
• small bunch of parsley↗

  stalks finely chopped (keep the leaves for the butter, and to serve)

• bay leaf↗1
• shallot↗1

  finely chopped

• mussels↗1kg kg

  cleaned and beards removed

• glass white wine1

  (I used chardonnay)

• unsalted butter↗40g g
• garlic cloves↗2
• chopped parsley leaves1 tbsp tbsp

  plus extra to serve

• tarragon½ tbsp tbsp

  leaves

• smoked paprika↗½ tsp tsp
• large pinch sea salt↗
• parmesan↗10g g

  grated

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   First, make the garlic butter. Blitz all the ingredients in a food processor, then set aside. The butter can be made ahead and chilled in the fridge for up to five days. Toast one side of each sourdough slice under the grill. Spread the other side thickly with the butter and place under the grill again until the butter is bubbling. Turn off the grill and keep the toasts warm.

2. 2

   Heat the oil and butter over a medium heat in a large pan with a lid. Add the parsley stalks, bay leaf, shallot and ½ tsp pepper, and sweat for a few mins until the shallots are softening and fragrant. Add the mussels and white wine, stir, cover tightly with a lid and steam for 2-3 mins until all the mussels have opened.

3. 3

   Spoon into bowls, pour over the pan juices, scatter over some chopped parsley and serve with the toasts.