Sarasota's Creamy Mussels over Pasta With Herb Bread

• Mussels and Sauce
• angel hair pasta↗1 lb
• mussels↗4 lbs

  I use anywhere between 3-4 lbs, about 1/3-1/2 lb per person

• large fennel bulb↗1

  core removed and thin sliced

• large onion↗1

  cut in quarters and thin sliced

• large leek↗1

  thin sliced

• minced garlic2 tablespoons
• diced tomatoes1

  (15 ounce)

• white wine↗1 1⁄2 cups
• brandy↗1⁄2 cup

  I just get one of those little "airline" bottles if you don't keep any on hand, works great

• vegetable stock↗2 cups
• heavy cream↗1 cup
• red pepper flakes↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• fresh parsley↗1⁄4 cup

  fine chopped

• fresh chives1⁄4 cup
• lemon (1/2 squeezed, 1/2 cut in slices)1
• cup butter↗1⁄8
• salt↗
• pepper↗
• Bread↗
• teaspoons herb butter (as I mentioned, I buy mine right at the grocery store, or you can make your own favorite)↗8
• slices Italian bread (toasted)↗8
• teaspoon paprika↗1⁄2

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Base Flavors -- In a large sauce pan or pot, add the butter and melt on medium high heat. Add the garlic, fennel, onion and leek and cook until slightly tender (about 4-5 minutes). Deglaze the pan with the brandy (and remember to remove from the heat when you add alcohol), then add the wine and broth, tomatoes, red pepper, lemon juice, salt (go lightly mussels have a salty quality) and pepper. Let the broth warm up and cook another 5 minutes on medium (not boiling, just a light simmer).

2. 2

   Mussels -- Add in the mussels and cover. They will take around 10 minutes for that many mussels, stir occasionally. Cook until they all open.

3. 3

   Just remember - Don't add any mussels to the pot that are already open (and when tapped, they don't close), and if they are cracked, toss them.

4. 4

   Finishing -- As the mussels cook, toast up the bread and slather with the herb butter and a dash of the paprika. Cook the pasta according to directions (angel hair takes only minutes).

5. 5

   Mussels -- Finish the mussels by adding in the parsley, chives and cream. Keep on medium and cook another minute or two until the sauce is warm. Stir to get all the flavors mixed throughout.

6. 6

   Serving -- Just serve the mussels in a large serving bowl with all the broth. Make sure each person has a bowl for their pasta and plenty of the broth from the mussels and crunchy bread to soak up all that flavor. OUTSTANDING!

7. 7

   NOTE: As one reviewer mentioned they didn't make the bread, but did suggest that you do. The pasta and bread is key for this. It is a thinner sauce almost like a Japanese noodle bowl so the pasta and bread are used to soak up all the sauce and flavors. Even though it is creamy, the sauce is thinner which is why the bread and pasta are key for this.