Steamed Mussels with Wine and Saffron

Saffron is the key ingredient in this mussels recipe. It adds great color and flavor to this dish.

Martha Stewart makes this steamed mussels recipe in the "Steaming" episode of "Martha Stewart's Cooking School."

Ingredients

3 pounds fresh mussels
1 large pinch saffron (about 30 threads)
3/4 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium shallots, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Directions

Holding mussels under cool running water, scrub with a stiff sponge or vegetable brush, then debeard: grip the tough fibers extending from the shell and pull to remove. Discard beards.
Steep saffron in wine for 10 minutes. (Saffron is soluble in water, not fat, so it won’t release its color or flavor if added directly to the butter.)
Meanwhile, melt butter over medium-high heat in a shallow stockpot. Once it’s foamy, add shallots, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Cook until shallots are transparent and garlic is soft, about 3 minutes, stirring every so often to keep garlic from scorching.
Pour in wine and saffron, then add tomatoes and return to a simmer, stirring once or twice.
Add mussels and cover tightly. Cook until all mussels open, about 6 minutes, stirring once about halfway through. Discard any unopened mussels. If using wild mussels, strain broth through a cheesecloth-lined sieve to remove any sand, if necessary.
Taste the broth and season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle with parsley before ladling mussels and broth into bowls.

Tips/Techniques

This steamed mussels recipe appears in the "Steaming" episode of "Martha Stewart's Cooking School." Visit the episode guide to watch a preview and get a cooking tip.