Easy Mussels Cooked in Greek Saffron-Pepper-Tomato Sauce

5 from 1 vote

Mussels are a classic Greek meze, super easy to cook, and a very popular seafood component of the Mediterranean diet. Did you know that mussels have been farmed in Greece since ancient times? There are a few varieties of Greek mussels, mostly cultivated off the coasts of Northern Greece, and typically a little slimmer and smaller than mussels from New Zealand and the Atlantic. In this Greek recipe for mussels, I marry these tasty bivalves with krokos Kozanis, aka Greek saffron.

5 from 1 vote

Easy Mussels Cooked in Greek Saffron-Pepper-Tomato Sauce

By Diane Kochilas

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Servings

Lent / Fasting, Main Courses, Meze / Starters, Recipes, Seafood

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Servings

Lent / Fasting, Main Courses, Meze / Starters, Recipes, Seafood

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin Greek olive oil
1 cup sliced shallots
3 garlic cloves chopped
3/4 cup dry Greek rosé wine
2 cups canned diced tomatoes in juice
2 tablespoons spicy piperoktima or any red pepper paste
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon Greek Krokos Kozanis saffron threads,
3 dozen mussels scrubbed, debearded
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the wine, tomatoes with juice, pepper sauce, paprika, and saffron; sprinkle with salt and generous amount of pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer for 3 minutes to blend flavors.
Add mussels and half of parsley; cover and cook until mussels open, about 3 minutes (discard any mussels that do not open).
Stir in remaining parsley. Divide mussels and juices among bowls and serve.

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Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

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Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

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Easy Mussels Cooked in Greek Saffron-Pepper-Tomato Sauce