Steamed Mussels With Lemon-Saffron Sauce
Ready In: 30 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup creme fraiche, see note below
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 1⁄2 tablespoons butter
- 2 large shallots, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons cognac or 2 tablespoons brandy
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 generous pinch saffron thread
- 40 mussels, scrubbed, debearded
- 1 cup dry white wine
- fresh chives
Directions
- Note:
- If creme fraiche is unavailable, heat 1 cup whipping cream to lukewarm (85°F). Remove from heat and mix in 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Cover and let stand in warm draft-free area until slightly thickened, 24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature of room. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Whisk crème fraîche and egg yolks in medium bowl to blend.
- Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat.
- Add shallots and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat.
- Add Cognac and ignite with match.
- Let flames burn out; whisk in lemon juice and saffron.
- Set both mixtures aside.
- Place mussels in heavy large pot; pour in wine.
- Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
- Cover pot and cook until mussels open, about 6 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Using tongs, transfer mussels to baking sheet (discard any mussels that do not open).
- Remove top half of each mussel shell; divide mussels in bottom shells among 4 bowls.
- Tent with foil.
- Strain mussel cooking liquid from pot through sieve lined with damp paper towel into skillet with shallot mixture.
- Boil over medium-high heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 3 minutes.
- Very slowly whisk hot liquid into crème fraîche mixture; return to same skillet.
- Stir over low heat just until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat; season sauce with salt and pepper.
- Spoon sauce over mussels.
- Garnish with chives.
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