Description
Mussels pasta in tomato sauce is a simple, light and fresh, seafood pasta dinner that you can make at home in 30 minutes. Easiest weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. pasta, spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine (8 oz.)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 lb. fresh live mussels, scrubbed and debearded
- 2 tablespoons cooking wine, white or red
- 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce (1 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add spaghetti noodles and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm), about 8-10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain well and set aside.
- In the meantime, heat oil in a shallow saucepan or large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes until the hot oil is sizzling hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant and soft, 2-3 minutes.
- Add mussels and wine. Cover the lid and steam for 6-8 minutes until all shells are wide open. If you don't have a lid to cover, stir occasionally to help the mussels cook evenly.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and add in tomato sauce and cooked pasta. Toss well to combine and bring the sauce to a simmer, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle parmesan and parsley on top and serve immediately.
Notes
How to prepare mussels: To clean, scrub the mussels with a scrubbing brush to remove any particles and debris. Next, remove the beard. This is a small stringy mass that sticks out of the side of each mussel. Hold the mussel in one hand, and gently pull the beard off using your other hand, pulling towards the bottom of the mussel where the clasp is. Once you've removed all of them, give the mussels one last rise under cold water.
How to store: You can store mussels pasta for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, heat in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. You may have to add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened up too much in the refrigerator.
How to customize: You can customize mussels pasta into a complete seafood pasta by tossing in some cooked shrimp, scallops, or clams.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian