Steamed Mussels in White Wine

Easy Mussels Recipe

This 30-minute mussels recipe is so easy and delicious. It can be used in a variety of different ways. I like to serve it with a big loaf of Italian bread or crostini and serve it with a side of pasta like Spaghetti Carbonara!

Eating and trying fish was something that my dad and mom always tried to get us to do but never could. Forcing people to eat shellfish like Italian Stuffed Baked Clams was basically a right of passage in our home. My Dad always told me that eating fresh clams would give me hair on my chest!

Steamed Mussels in White Wine sauce is a very mild flavor and a good introduction to shellfish. Even if you don't try the mussels, you can dip bread into the sauce and start becoming accustomed to the taste. The sauce is one of the best parts in mussel dishes like this one or Mussels Fra Diavolo.

How to Buy Mussels

Most mussels are farm-raised. That's okay. Wild mussels have a lot of grit and if they are harvested from certain areas, like the California coast, they aren't safe to eat during certain parts of the year. They are indiscriminate eaters, meaning they'll eat anything, even if it is toxic or in polluted waters. This can make them unsafe for our consumption. It's always better to go with a rope-grown, farm-raised mussel. It's much different than salmon where you want a wild-caught salmon like in our Cast Iron Lemon Dill Salmon.

The wild mussels also will have a lot of grit and sand, because they live on the ocean floor. They have to be purged A LOT, to remove all the sand and stuff you don't want falling out into your sauce.

How to Clean Mussels

Both mussels, farm-raised and wild, can have beards. It's the hairy little growth on the edge of the shell. This should be removed by holding tightly between your thumb and forefinger and ripping it out of the shell. Both types of mussels should be scrubbed before cooking, either with your hands or a clean brush.

Throw away any open or broken shells. These mussels are dead and could go bad very quickly. Only cook mussels that have a closed shell. If a mussel is slightly open, try tapping the shell. If it closes right up, it's safe to eat.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Shallot. I show an onion above but I prefer the mild flavor of shallots in this sauce combined with garlic. Either works though.

White Wine. People always ask what white wine to use for cooking. I almost always choose a Sauvignon Blanc. It's bright and fresh and I think it is a great flavor for most meals.

Mussels. These are rope-grown, farm-raised mussels from Costco. They have such a great deal on mussels and they're delicious.

Seasonings. I season with oregano, crushed red pepper, and salt. It's simple but delicious.

*Please see the recipe card below for more information on ingredients.

How to Make Steamed Mussels in White Wine

A good base sauce to steam the mussels in provides them with an unbelievable taste and flavor. Plus, dipping the crostini in the sauce might be the best part.

The first step is to clean and debeard the mussels. That step can be found above in the How to clean mussels section of the blog.

Step 1: In a large saucepan, add olive oil, and bring to medium-low heat. Stir in your shallots, and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 2: Add in garlic, crushed red pepper, and oregano and stir. Saute for 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant but not browning.

Step 3: Add 1 cup of white wine and ½ cup of water. Raise the heat to medium and bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir in 1 tablespoon of parsley. Simmer for 3 minutes.

Step 4: Drop the mussels in and cover for 3-5 minutes to steam. Leave it on a low simmer.

Step 5: When you open the pan, the mussels should be opened. Stir the mussels and baste them in the sauce. Remove the mussels from the pan and place them in a serving bowl.

Step 6: Add butter to the sauce that remains in the pan. Stir well until it is combined. Pour the sauce over the mussels and serve with toasted crostini for dipping in the sauce. Garnish with more parsley.

Steamed mussels in white wine are the perfect appetizer for your Christmas Eve or Holiday spread. They're easy to serve and eat, plus it is a really quick recipe with most of the prep able to be done in advance like cleaning the mussels or preparing the ingredients. Although, it's always good to have a snack out for the guests anyway like our Bourbon Candied Pecans or Easy Steamed Artichokes.

What should you serve Steamed Mussels in White Wine Sauce with?

I love steamed mussels in white wine because they can be a standalone dish. Growing up, we would have a whole tray of these out on the holidays, from appetizers through dinner.

Serve mussels with other appetizers like Eggplant Caponata, Veggie Stromboli, or Spinach and Artichoke Dip No Mayo.

If you're looking to serve it for Christmas Eve with the seven fishes you can also serve Fried Flounder Oreganata, Linguine with Red Clam Sauce, or Pan-Seared Vermillion Snapper.

This is also a dish that can be served over angel hair pasta as a full meal. The white wine sauce is perfect for delicate pasta.

We usually eat this on Christmas Eve so make sure you have a delicious dessert ready too like Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies or Pistachio Cream Tiramisu with our Homemade Ladyfingers Recipe.

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