Mussels are an excellent dietary food, incredibly tasty and beneficial. They contain protein, phosphorus, iron, and substances that strengthen the immune system.
Mussel meat is suitable for strict weight-loss diets, as it is low in calories. Mussels are cultivated on special marine farms, so they are available in stores year-round.
Let’s consider how to prepare mussels so they bring us both pleasure and benefit? Pay attention to the mussels you are about to buy. They should be undamaged, with shells tightly closed. Avoid shells that are too heavy or too light—overly heavy ones contain sand, while very light ones indicate the mollusks are already dead.
Mussels have shells of various colors, depending on their variety. All are edible and pair wonderfully with vegetable side dishes, rice, and especially elegantly served in white wine.
They are boiled in salted water for about 10 minutes, then drained in a colander and sprinkled with lemon juice.
Mussels with vegetables Ingredients: 200g mussels, colorful sweet peppers, 100g of Chinese cabbage, a couple of pickled cucumbers, sauce, oil, and spices.
How to prepare?
Boil the mussels, dice the cucumbers and peppers, and combine. Add shredded cabbage, crushed garlic, salt, spices, sauce, and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly and drizzle with oil.
Pilaf with mussels Ingredients: 700g mussels, one glass of raw rice, two onions, one carrot, one tablespoon of tomato purée, about 40g of butter, spices.
How to prepare?
Boil the mussels. Sauté carrots, onions, and rice in butter, add two glasses of mussel broth, tomato paste, spices, season with salt, and cook over medium heat until done. Then mix in the cooked mussels. That’s it—pilaf is ready!
