Steamed Mussels Thai Style

10/05/2007, tags: shellfish, thai food, lemon grass, basil

After my great success with Moules Marinière, I decided to try cooking some of these clams again, but in a different way. I was curious to see if there was any asian recipe for mussels and as it turns out one of my thai-cooking book had an answer to that question:-)

Steamed Mussels Thai Style

(from Thai Cooking)

Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 15 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients
  • 1 kg mussels
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 2 stems lemon grass (chopped - white part only)
  • 1 or 2 tsp red chillies (chopped)
  • 1 cup white wine or water
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (roughly chopped)
Directions
  1. Wash the mussels under cold, running water. Pull out any fibrous beard and scrape off any barnacles with a knife. Discard any open ones that do not close when tapped or those with broken shells. Put the cleaned ones aside in a strainer to drain off water.
  2. Heat the oil in a wok or large pan, add the chopped onions, garlic, lemon grass and chillies. Cook it for about 4 minutes over low heat, stirring it occasionally.
  3. Add the wine and fish sauce to the wok and cook it for 3 minutes.
  4. Add the mussels to the wok and toss well.
  5. Cover the wok and increase the heat. Cook it for 3 to 4 minute or until the mussels open.
  6. Add the chopped basil and toss well.
  7. Serve with steamed rice.
The Verdict

Personally, I was expecting it to taste very different from Moules Marinière. In the end, they taste quite similar except that the Thai version is very aromatic and spicy due to the lemon grass, basil and the chillies. The sauce was delicious and to my surprise, my 1 year old likes it very much and was happily accepting one spoonful after another. Apparently she doesn't mind a bit of chili.

Steamed Mussels Thai Style
14 comments.
#1, par Truffle (10/06/2007)

These sorts of mussel recipes make me weak at the knees. I just love the aromatic flavours you've used here.

#2, par Anh (10/06/2007)

This is one of my fav way of cooking mussels. They are just very tasty!

#3, par fatboybakes (10/06/2007)

Hiya cooking ninja, i must remember to link you the next time i edit my template. have i thanked you for your cheese puff recipe?
ARENT you lucky, MIL bought you the magimix?!!! but i guess it IS french, and probably a whole heck lot cheaper.
aiyo, your antispam simple question is quite tough la.

#4, par eastmeetswestkitchen (10/06/2007)

Delicious looking mussels!

#5, par keeyit (10/07/2007)

Ohh... the purple colour mussels again..:-D
That plate of rice + mussels + a bit hot chilies.. Should be a great lunch for me la.. :P

#6, par Cynthia (10/07/2007)

The sauce with the steamed rice alone would satisfy me.

#7, par Katie (10/07/2007)

I usually make them with tomatoes and basil...I really like the idea of serving them with rice! I'm doing that next time..
We saw a woman, with the standard Moules Frites, eat all of the mussels, then dump all of the frites (which she hadn't touched) into the pot to soak up the sauce. Interesting...

#8, par aria (10/07/2007)

absolute heaven those look like!! I'm definitely making this recipe. thanks for the inspiration i cannot resist, the force is too strong......

#9, par Judy (10/07/2007)

I really love the mussels from France. They are smaller and fresher.

We will be going over to Calais just to get mussels in October.:-) Might try this recipe.

#10, par wokandspoon (10/08/2007)

This recipe sounds lovely with the lemongrass and chilli! Sounds like your daughter enjoys the chilli - and at such a young age as welL!

#11, par The Cooking Ninja (10/10/2007)

@fatboybakes: yes you did.:-) Nah, it's still very expensive. Magimix is quite an expensive brand here.

@Katie: Did she actually eat up all the fries soaked with the sauce???

@wokandspoon: My significant other said it must be because I ate lots of curry during my pregnancy. hehehe

#12, par Amy (10/13/2007)

Mussels are one of my favorite things! This recipe looks delish!

#13, par Ashley (10/30/2007)

Looks so tasty!
Check out my Travel Blog!

#14, par Precious Pea (11/06/2007)

Wow! My hubby's favourite. He likes it with lots of basil and birds' eye chili.

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