Thai Red Curry Mussels
Watercress is prized in Asian cuisine for its peppery flavor and in this dish stands up to the sweet spiciness of the mussels in a coconut-laced red curry sauce. If you can find it in your market, use Thai basil for the garnish - it adds a unique sweet anise flavor that will make the dish taste all the more authentic.
Ingredients
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2 teaspoons peanut oil, or canola oil
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2 medium cloves garlic, minced
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2 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
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Zest and juice of 1 lime
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1-2 teaspoons Thai red curry paste, (see Note)
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1 14-ounce can lite coconut milk
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1 tablespoon brown sugar
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2 teaspoons fish sauce, (see Note)
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4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded (see Tip)
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6 cups trimmed watercress, (1-2 bunches) or trimmed spinach
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2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil, for garnish
Directions
1.
Heat oil in a large high-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic, scallion whites, lime zest and curry paste to taste; cook until fragrant and the paste is sizzling, 1 to 3 minutes. Add lime juice, coconut milk, brown sugar and fish sauce. Bring to a boil and let cook for 2 minutes.
2.
Add mussels, return to a simmer, cover and cook for 6 minutes. Spread watercress (or spinach) over the mussels, cover and cook until slightly wilted, about 4 minutes; stir into the mussels. (Discard any unopened mussels.) Serve garnished with scallion greens and basil.
Tips:
Note: Red curry paste and fish sauce, typical Thai ingredients, can be found in the Asian food section of large supermarkets.
Tip: To clean mussels, scrub with a stiff brush under cold running water. Scrape off any barnacles using the shell of another mussel. Pull off the fuzzy "beard" from each one (some mussels may not have a beard).
Nutrition information
Calories 273, Total Fat 13 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Monounsaturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 48 mg, Sodium 582 mg, Carbohydrate 16 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 24 g, Potassium 438 mg. Daily Values: Vitamin A 60%, Vitamin C 60%, Iron 35%. Exchanges: Other Carbohydrate 1,Lean Meat 3,Fat 2.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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