There is something special about a large pot of steaming blue mussels in the middle of the table. The aroma of the sea, herbs and warm spices quickly fills the kitchen, and suddenly it feels like a little everyday luxury. This version with chilli and coconut is creamy, lightly spiced and incredibly easy to make.

This dish is ideal when you want to serve something impressive without spending hours in the kitchen. With just a few ingredients and a short cooking time, you get a rich, aromatic dish that goes perfectly with good bread to soak up the delicious sauce. A spacious pot – such as a sturdy sauté pan with plenty of room – makes it easy to bring everything together in one place.

Recipe

Serves: 4
Preparation: 15 min.
Cooking: 10–12 min.

Ingredients

• 1.5 kg mussels
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 finely sliced leeks
• 1 handful of finely chopped parsley
• 2 red chillies
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 dl coconut milk
• Good bread to serve

Method

1. Rinse the mussels in a bowl under cold running water.
2. Stir well in the bowl. Give any open mussels a light tap on the kitchen worktop. Discard any damaged mussels too.
3. Sauté the onion, garlic, leeks, parsley and chilli in a little oil in a large pot.
4. Pour the coconut milk into the pot, then add the cleaned mussels.
5. Let it boil for approx. 8 minutes, or until the mussels have opened.
6. Discard any mussels that are still closed after steaming.
7. Serve the steamed mussels with toasted bread and chopped parsley.

Serving

Once the mussels are ready, you can place the pot directly on the table and let everyone help themselves. The warm, creamy coconut broth with chilli and herbs invites you to dip your bread again and again.

It is a dish that brings people together around the table and creates a relaxed atmosphere. Simple, flavourful and easy to make – just as a good everyday favourite should be.