Stuffed Mussels in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Prep Time: 60 Minutes

Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Ready In: 105 Minutes

Servings: 10

Stuffed mussels is a favorite throughout Italy. In Tuscany alone there are at least three traditional dishes to my knowledge. This is how they cook 'em up in Livorno.

Ingredients:

24 large mussels (about 15 oz.)

10 ounces ground beef

3 ounces stale crusty bread

1 1/2 cups broth

1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley

1 garlic clove (minced)

ground black pepper (20 turns of pepper mill)

3 -4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

25 ounces crushed peeled tomatoes

2 garlic cloves (minced)

1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley

1 small chili pepper (minced)

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

liquid released from mussels

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley

Directions:

1. Beard and clean mussels.
2. Open mussels over bowl to collect liquid. Set aside.
3. Cut stale bread up into cubes, place in bowl and moisten with broth. Let stand till bread has softened.
4. Squeeze bread well of all liquid. Mix all the stuffing ingredients well in a bowl.
5. Stuff mussels placing a heaping tablespoon of the stuffing on an open shell, press the two shells shut and wipe off the stuffing that squishes out.
6. Make the tomato sauce: Sauté garlic, chili pepper and parsley in the oil over medium heat (do not let garlic brown). Add the crushed peeled tomatoes, stir and then add the mussel juice you've kept aside. Let sauce simmer for about 15 minutes.
7. Gently place mussels into pan, cover and let mussels stew for about half an hour or until stuffing has cooked through.
8. Serve and garnish with a sprinkling of parsley.

By RecipeOfHealth.com