Grill-Steamed Mussels with Chourico and Texas Toast

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic divided
• 2 cups dry white wine
• 1 tomato about the size of a baseball cored and diced small
• 1 lb. chourico halved lengthwise
• 5 lbs. (about 50 to 60) mussels scrubbed and debearded
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 lemon halved
• 4 slices good bread 1 inch thick

Instructions

1. 1
   Build a fire on one side of your grill, using about enough coals to fill a large shoebox. When the coals are ignited and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the grill grid for 4 to 5 seconds), you're ready to cook.
2. 2
   In a small bowl, combine the butter, the minced parsley, and 1 tablespoon of the minced garlic and set it aside at room temperature.
3. 3
   Find a shallow baking pan or foil pan that is large enough to hold all the mussels in a single layer and sturdy enough to withstand the heat of a low fire. Put the wine, the remaining garlic, and tomato in this pan and place it on the grill over the side that has no fire. As the contents heat up, stir or swirl the mixture around a few times to combine the ingredients.
4. 4
   Put the chourico on the grill over the coals and cook until it is crisp and brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side, then remove from the heat, slice it thin, and add it to the wine mixture in the pan. Place the mussels on the hot side of the grill and cook until they open, about 8 to 10 minutes. As the mussels open, transfer them to the pan. (Discard any that do not open.)
5. 5
   While the mussels are cooking, arrange the bread slices around the edge of the fire and toast them lightly, about 2 minutes per side. Spread the hot, toasted slices with the garlic butter.
6. 6
   Squeeze the lemon halves over the mussels, sprinkle with the chopped parsley and salt and pepper to taste, and serve the mussels and chourico straight out of the pan, along with the Texas toast to soak up the pan juices.