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Oven-Steamed Mussels with Hard Cider and Bacon

By Andrew Janjigian

Published on July 30, 2013

Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Oven-Steamed Mussels with Hard Cider and Bacon

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces1 cup dry hard cider 3 sprigs fresh thyme 2 bay leaves 4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Before You Begin

Discard any mussel with an unpleasant odor or with a cracked or broken shell or a shell that won’t close. Do not substitute a sweet cider for the hard cider. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Heat oil and bacon in large roasting pan over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon has rendered and is starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add cider, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves and bring to boil. Cook until cider is slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Add mussels and salt. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil and transfer to oven. Cook until most mussels have opened (a few may remain closed), 15 to 18 minutes.
  2. Remove pan from oven. Push mussels to sides of pan. Add cream to center and whisk until incorporated. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves, sprinkle parsley over mussels, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Oven-Steamed Mussels with Hard Cider and Bacon

Oven-Steamed Mussels with Hard Cider and Bacon

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Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup dry hard cider
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup dry hard cider
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup dry hard cider
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
4 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

To even out the cooking of our steamed mussels and prevent overcooking, we move them to the gentle, enveloping heat of the oven, in a large roasting pan, so they aren’t too crowded.

Before You Begin

Discard any mussel with an unpleasant odor or with a cracked or broken shell or a shell that won’t close. Do not substitute a sweet cider for the hard cider. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Heat oil and bacon in large roasting pan over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon has rendered and is starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add cider, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves and bring to boil. Cook until cider is slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Add mussels and salt. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil and transfer to oven. Cook until most mussels have opened (a few may remain closed), 15 to 18 minutes.
  2. Remove pan from oven. Push mussels to sides of pan. Add cream to center and whisk until incorporated. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves, sprinkle parsley over mussels, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

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