Mussels Baked with Cheese in the Oven
Description
Suitable for both holidays and everyday meals. This colorful mussel delicacy can be made at home—you don’t have to go to a restaurant or café. You can get other family members involved; children especially enjoy putting the cheese into the shells. Add other spices, seasonings, and sauces to taste.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the listed ingredients. Buy mussels in their shells. If they are not in vacuum packaging, make sure all the mussels are closed. Do not buy open shells!
- 2
Step 2
Rinse the mussels and place them in a kazan, pot, or saucepan with a nonstick bottom. Cover with boiling water. Add salt and bay leaves. The shells will open in the boiling water; that is expected. Boil for 3–4 minutes from when the liquid in the pot comes back to a boil.
- 3
Step 3
While the mussels are cooking, grate hard cheese of any variety on a coarse grater into a bowl or ramekin. Peel the garlic cloves and rinse them together with the parsley. Mince and add to the cheese along with a pinch of salt and ground black pepper. Mix gently.
- 4
Step 4
Place the boiled mussels on a plate or board, let them cool slightly, and open them, removing the top part of the shell. Arrange them on a plate.
- 5
Step 5
Place a portion of the cheese filling in each shell. Arrange the stuffed shells on a baking sheet or on foil lining a baking dish. Preheat the oven to 200°C and bake the mussels for 3–5 minutes at most.
- 6
Step 6
Watch that the cheese crust doesn’t burn. Transfer the cooked mussels to a plate and serve warm. Don’t forget the chilled wine!