Today we will talk about shellfish. Rather, about one of the representatives of this numerous species. Quite often you can hear the questions of the housewives, how to cook frozen mussels, how they are useful, what can be prepared from them. Today we will try to answer these questions. We hope you find our tips useful.
Mussels belong to the class Bivalvia. Their shell can be from five to twenty centimeters in size. Different types and subspecies have different shapes. Moreover, they have different life expectancies. The inhabitants of the Pacific live thirty years, northern mussels - ten, and the shortest life path for the Black Sea mussel. She was only allowed five to six years of life.
Currently, mussels are grown artificially, on platforms right in the sea. The larvae themselves are fixed on the platform - it remains only to place them in a suitable pool, protecting them from the weather and strong currents. After eighteen months (a considerable period), the mussels have reached the required size, and they can be caught. From one small platform, up to three kilograms of mollusks are collected.
"Oysters for the poor"
Before talking about how to cook frozen mussels, I would like to tell how they are useful. The meat part (muscle) and the liquid in the shell are consumed. They come on sale most often in frozen form. You can โmeetโ fresh mussels only in Odessa at Privoz.
They contain a lot of vitamins, minerals. The calorie content of one hundred grams of the product is approximately 86 kcal. Mussels contain a huge amount of protein (much more than in fish or beef), iron and phosphorus.
Contraindications
This delicacy can cause very severe allergies. In addition, mussels are contraindicated in those who have bleeding disorders.
How to cook boiled-frozen mussels
Itโs not difficult to do this. Immediately make a reservation that today on sale you can buy mussels frozen and boiled-frozen. If you bought the second option, then the question of how to cook boiled-frozen mussels should not worry you. They must be thawed naturally, rinse thoroughly in running water to wash away the remnants of grains of sand and pebbles. That's all, you can start cooking your dish.
If someone asks you how to cook boiled-frozen mussels, feel free to answer that you should not do this. This is perhaps the fastest way to cook clams. Many will be surprised - you donโt need to cook, then how to cook frozen mussels ? You can use them as a snack - transfer the meat to one of the half shells, pour lemon juice and garnish with herbs. Or stew them with onions and add any of the following side dishes.
Frozen mussels: how to cook
It is easy to do. The main thing is not to digest them. Put the seafood in the pan, fill with two glasses of cold water, close the lid and put on maximum heat. Salting water is not necessary, because the shell of the mussel is filled with salt water. After some time, the water will boil, and the shells will open under the influence of high temperatures. Before boiling, a little water was added, because a sufficient amount of liquid would flow out of the opened sinks. It is important to ensure that absolutely all shells open. The meat will curl up and take a characteristic shape - you will immediately see it. The cooking process is approximately twenty minutes.
Meat processing
It is usually simple to do. The meat comes out of the shell easily. But sometimes there are bundles of "threads" with which mussels are attached to the stones. They should be cut short, the rest is completely edible. Now you know how to cook frozen mussels, their preparation is not particularly difficult. Even the most inexperienced housewife will cope with such work.
Peeled mussels are a perishable product. You need to know that you can defrost them only once. In addition, it is necessary to prepare the conceived dish within twenty-four hours after defrosting - otherwise they will deteriorate.
To everyone who cares about how to cook peeled frozen mussels, we inform you that this can be done in several ways. The only thing to keep in mind is that mussels should be cooked for no more than seven minutes from the moment of boiling water. Overcooked mollusks become "rubber". Cooking frozen mussels is not at all difficult.
Method number 1
How to cook peeled mussels frozen in wine?
You will need:
- mussels thawed at room temperature;
- a glass of white wine;
- seasonings for seafood, salt, pepper, herbs.
Add seasonings to the wine pan, lower the mussels, cover and simmer for five minutes over low heat. Clams cooked in this way are an independent dish. Do not overdo it with seasonings. The taste of seafood should be felt. Before serving, they can be lightly sprinkled with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Method number 2
Many have heard about this recipe, but they still often ask how to cook frozen mussel meat in milk. We are pleased to tell you about this method. You need so much milk to completely cover the mussels. It must first be brought to a boil. Dip the prepared mussels into it, boil for five minutes and finally add salt to taste. Spicy lovers can add pepper.
If you do not know what to cook from frozen mussels, then use our advice. Mussels prepared according to this recipe go well with potatoes, rice, pasta. In addition, they can become an ingredient in the preparation of various salads.
Method number 3
Many will like this recipe - it is very simple, and the result is always excellent. How to cook frozen mussels in another way? Pour about 2/3 cups of olive oil into the pan, add the spices for the fish you like best, mix well. Bring the oil to a boil over low heat, and dip the clams into it. Put the mussels cooked in oil on a cloth to remove excess fat. They turn out very soft and juicy.
Today we want to present you some interesting recipes for dishes that use mussels. Let's start, as expected, with a salad. The first we will prepare a salad with mussels and rice. It will take 45 minutes of your time. To prepare six servings, you will need:
- 600 g of frozen mussels;
- 6 tablespoons (tablespoons) of olive oil;
- 150 g of rice, better than long-grain;
- 8 pcs cherry tomatoes;
- 2 chicken eggs;
- one bay leaf;
- 20 g parsley;
- pepper and sea salt to taste.
Boil thawed mussels in milk by first adding a leaf of bay leaf, peas and salt. Boil hard-boiled eggs and cut them into slices, cut the tomatoes into two parts. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with salt, vinegar and pepper, season the salad and mix. If you think the salad is pale, add a pinch of turmeric or curry when you cook rice.
Seafood Cheese Soup
For five servings you will need:
- potatoes - 3 pcs.;
- onions - 1 pc.;
- processed cheese - 1 pc.;
- carrots - 1 pc.;
- dried garlic - 1.5 teaspoons;
- crackers - 150 g;
- boiled peeled shrimps - 150 g;
- dry garlic - 1.5 teaspoons;
- frozen mussels - 200 g.
Peel the carrots, onions and potatoes and boil them in salted water. Pour about 100โ150 g of vegetable stock. Using a blender, grind the vegetables in a puree. Cut the cheese into small cubes, melt it in the broth. Stir constantly, add this mass to the soup. Boil for about 5 minutes, adding dried garlic. Place cooked shrimps and mussels on plates and pour soup. Sprinkle crackers on top. It will take you 40 minutes to make the soup.
Mussels in garlic cream sauce
This delicious dish belongs to the French cuisine. You will cook it in fifteen minutes (4 servings). You will need:
- 500 g of frozen mussels;
- to taste olive herbs and garlic;
- 30 g butter;
- 200 g of 10% cream.
Peel and chop the garlic, melt the butter in a pan, add the garlic to it, then make the fire minimal and simmer it for 1 minute. Make sure that it does not burn. Add the thawed mussels to the garlic, pepper and add the French herbs. After about seven minutes, pour in the cream and continue to simmer. If the cream does not immediately thicken, add a little flour. Serve the cooked dish better with rice or pasta.
Fried mussels with teriyaki sauce
The dish is cooked for 30 minutes. Today we will prepare two servings. Prepare the following products:
- 200 g of thawed mussels;
- a glass of rice;
- 1 bell pepper;
- fenugreek, coriander, caraway seeds and teriyaki sauce to taste.
Immerse thawed mussels for three minutes in boiling water. You can pour the clams with boiling water. Fold on a sieve, dry. Boil until cooked rice. Heat the pan well, fry the onions. Add bell pepper to it. Leave the vegetables in the pan for another five minutes. Then you can add the mussels and fry them until a light crust appears. Do not forget to stir the products constantly.
Now it's time for teriyaki sauce. Keep the dish on the fire for another two minutes - and our mussels are ready.
Put the cooked rice in a preheated pan, add spices to it and fry it thoroughly. Put rice and mussels with vegetables on a plate - and you can serve dinner.
Cook the mussels under the green garlic oil. He needs mussels in the sink. Fresh or frozen - it does not matter. For 12 mussels, soften 125 grams of butter so that it can be mixed with a fork. Grind three cloves of garlic with salt. Combine it with chopped dill, parsley, cilantro (you can use any you like) and with soft butter. Add two tablespoons of dry wine here. In conclusion, the oil should be salt and pepper. Then put this oil on halves of mussel shells laid on a baking sheet, sprinkle with breadcrumbs on top. After this, the mussels are sent to the oven. Baking time - ten minutes (temperature 200 degrees).
Today you have learned a little more about these currently popular shellfish. Now you know how much to cook boiled-frozen mussels, what can be prepared from them, what is this delicacy useful for.