Carrabba's Mussels " Cozze Bianco"

Holty's Note:

This is a copy cat of Carrabba's Restaurant's mussels (they are incredible). I had to find their recipe. I hope you think they just come close.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 4 cups mussels
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons yellow onions , chopped
• 2 tablespoons garlic , chopped
• 2 tablespoons Pernod or 2 tablespoons other licorice liqueur
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil , chopped
• ½ lemon , juice and pulp of

Lemon Butter Sauce(use 3/4 cup)

• ¼ cup real butter
• 2 tablespoons yellow onions , minced
• 2 tablespoons garlic , minced
• 1⁄3; cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons dry white wine
• kosher salt
• white pepper , to taste
• 2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions:

1. Mussels:.
2. Soak mussels in cold water for 8 min; scrub with stiff brush and remove beard with sharp knife;rinse mussels again in cold water.
3. Heat oil in a skillet; add mussels; cover and cook until shells begin to open, about 2 minutes.
4. Add onion and garlic; toss to mix; cook, covered, for 1 minute.
5. Add Pernod, basil,lemon juice and lemon butter sauce; cook for 45 seconds.
6. Discard any mussels that did not open. Serve in deep bowl.
7. Lemon Butter Sauce:.
8. Melt butter over low heat;remove from heat and let sit until the milk solids settle to the bottom; skim the clear butter from the top; discard the sediment.
9. Sauté onion and garlic in 2 tbs of the clarified butter until transparent.
10. Stir in lemon juice and white wine and season with salt and pepper.
11. Simmer 2-3 minutes to reduce liquid.
12. Remove from heat and swirl in cold butter until sauce is smooth and butter is melted.

Reviews

[bobby bouche]

very, very close to the actuall recipe. However, do not add the lemon butter sauce until the mussles are done, simply toss them in it at the end, otherwise, the sauce will break.

[monicann]

My husband called it "Money" and was after dips in the sauce with bread before I could even serve this! It was a wonderful addition to the menu and was met with rave reviews from all!
I highly recommend this recipe, though I substituted pesto for the fresh basil. The pesto allowed for greater color and infusion of the seasonings. This will be a regular feature. Paired with drunken pasta, it was ideal.

[Chef #1493551]

Come close???? I couldn't tell the difference between this and the restaurant, in fact at the restaurant I had to send these back a couple of times because I thought they undercooked them....at home they come out perfect every time!!! Thanks!!