Donegal Mussel Soup Recipe
Ingredients
| Mussels | 3 Dozen | |
| 40 g/1 1/2 oz butter | ||
| Shallots | 2 Small, finely chopped | |
| Parsley | 1 Tablespoon, chopped | |
| Thyme | 1 Teaspoon, chopped | |
| Bay Leaf | 1 | |
| Black pepper salt | 1 To taste | |
| 1175 ml/6 fl oz cider | ||
| Leek | 1 Large, thinly sliced | |
| Stalk celery | 1 , chopped | |
| Flour | 4 Tablespoon | |
| 600 ml/1 pint milk, scalded | ||
| 600 ml/1 pint fish stock, warmed | ||
| Fennel | 3 , chopped | |
| Nutmeg | 1 Teaspoon, grated | |
| 150 ml/5 fl oz double cream | ||
Directions
Scrub the mussels and scrape off the beards.
Discard any mussels that are not tightly shut or any that seem too heavy as they may be full of sand.
Leave to soak in cold water for 2 hours, then wash and drain again.
Grease a large saucepan with 15 g/1/2 oz of the butter.
Sprinkle the shallots over the bottom and add the parsley, thyme and bay leaf.
Arrange the mussels on top and season with pepper.
Pour in the cider.
Bring to the boil, cover and cook for 10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
Remove from the heat.
Take the mussels out of the pan, discarding any which are still closed.
Remove the meat from the shells, discarding the shells.
Strain the cooking liquid and reserve.
Melt the remaining butter in the cleaned-out saucepan.
Add the leek and celery and fry until lightly browned.
Sprinkle over the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and stir in the milk and fish stock.
Return to the heat and simmer, stirring, until thickened.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and strain the liquid into another saucepan.
Stir in the reserved mussel cooking liquid, the fennel, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
Add the mussels and cream and stir well.
Heat through gently without boiling.
Serve hot.
Discard any mussels that are not tightly shut or any that seem too heavy as they may be full of sand.
Leave to soak in cold water for 2 hours, then wash and drain again.
Grease a large saucepan with 15 g/1/2 oz of the butter.
Sprinkle the shallots over the bottom and add the parsley, thyme and bay leaf.
Arrange the mussels on top and season with pepper.
Pour in the cider.
Bring to the boil, cover and cook for 10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
Remove from the heat.
Take the mussels out of the pan, discarding any which are still closed.
Remove the meat from the shells, discarding the shells.
Strain the cooking liquid and reserve.
Melt the remaining butter in the cleaned-out saucepan.
Add the leek and celery and fry until lightly browned.
Sprinkle over the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Remove from the heat and stir in the milk and fish stock.
Return to the heat and simmer, stirring, until thickened.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and strain the liquid into another saucepan.
Stir in the reserved mussel cooking liquid, the fennel, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
Add the mussels and cream and stir well.
Heat through gently without boiling.
Serve hot.
Chef
