Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Wednesday 21 February 2018
Steamed mussels are a perfect choice for a weeknight meal

This February 2018 photo shows steamed mussels with Thai flavoring in New York.
Associated Press

By SARA MOULTON mussels in green for St. Pat- of typical Thai ingredients: Start to finish: 30 minutes large bowl. If any mussels
Associated Press rick's Day with a garnish of lemon grass, galangal (sim- Servings: 4 do not open, discard them.
Mussels are the perfect chopped scallions and ci- ilar to ginger), chiles and 1/4 cup Thai green curry Add the lime juice to the
choice for a weeknight lantro. makrut lime leaves. When paste saucepan and return all of
meal. They're a terrific Coloring aside, the flavor- added to a liquid, it makes One 13.5-ounce can light the opened mussels to the
source of low-fat protein, ing of this dish, consist- an instant flavorful sauce. coconut milk saucepan and cook for a
they're inexpensive, they ing of just six ingredients, Once the jar is opened it 3 pounds farmed mussels, minute or two, stirring, to re-
cook up quickly, and as is Thai. The key actors are needs to be kept in the re- scrubbed heat them.
they cook, they automati- coconut milk and Thai cur- frigerator, but it lasts a long 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh To serve, transfer the mus-
cally generate tasty juices ry paste, which are com- time and you can use it lime juice or to taste sels to each of four soup
to whichever sauce you're bined. (Don't confuse co- as the base of a sauce for 1/3 cup thinly sliced scal- plates. Pour one-fourth of
making. Also, farmed mus- conut milk with cream of other seafood dishes or for lions the cooking liquid over
sels are pretty easy to coconut, which has lots of chicken or meat. 1/3 cup chopped fresh ci- each portion and sprinkle
clean. You just toss them sugar added.) I suggest us- So how about trying this six- lantro one-fourth of the scallions
briefly in several changes ing light coconut milk be- ingredient recipe the next In a large saucepan or and cilantro over each
of fresh water and pull off cause it's lighter in calories, time you want to mix it up stockpot whisk together one.
any strings (also known as but you're welcome to opt a bit on a weeknight? You'll the curry paste and coco-
"beards") hanging from the for the full-fat version. Thai have a delicious dinner on nut milk. Add the mussels,
hinge of the shell. Finally, curry paste, now available the table in just 30 minutes. cover tightly and bring the
bonus, if you buy farmed in the international aisle of And don't forget to put liquid to a boil over high
mussels — the most com- most supermarkets, is to- some bread on the side. It's heat. Stir often. After a
mon variety available at tally unrelated to the curry just the thing to sop up all few minutes, the mussels
stores today — you'll have spice mix that you find in those juices. should start to open. Re-
chosen a sustainable sea- Indian or Pakistani food. It Steamed Mussels in Spicy move them as they open
food. Here I've dressed the is, as advertised, a mixture Coconut Broth and transfer them to a