Easy Steamed Garlic Mussels with Crusty Bread

I remember my mother making a recipe growing up that was a light, garlic broth over linguine.  It had canned clams in it.  I also remember wishing that there were more clams, or that the clams were bigger.  As an adult I have learned to love mussels in much the same way, but am almost always disappointed in the versions served at most restaurants we eat at.

So I developed this super-easy, steamed garlic mussels recipe.  You can serve it over linguine with crusty french bread for a filling meal that takes just minutes to prepare.  By using Garden Gourmet products, you can shave even more time off of your final prep time!

You'll need:

• 1 lb cleaned in-the-shell mussels (I used a bag of frozen, and they turned out delicious!)
• 1 tsp of Garden Gourmet Chunky Garlic Paste
• 1 tsp of Garden Gourmet Italian Herbs
• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 cup chicken broth

To create this almost instant dish, just melt the butter in a large stock pot, then add the Garden Gourmet products.  Once it has simmered for 1 minute, add in the chicken broth and the frozen or fresh mussels.  Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the shells open.

You can serve the mussels over linguine for a yummy meal.  I have a few kids who don't like mussels to eat, but LOVE the broth from this dish.  We serve them the noodles in broth like a soup, and they gobble it up!

For the crusty bread, slice a loaf of french bread into slices.  Then mix 4 tablespoons softened salted butter with 1 tablespoon Garden Gourmet Chunky Garlic Paste and 1 teaspoon Garden Gourmet Italian Herbs.  Spread the mixture on one side of each of the slices you created.  Wrap in foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until crusty on the outside!

I have reviewed Garden Gourmet products here on the blog before, and we are still avid fans.  When you can avoid getting out a knife and cutting board (plus save your hands from the stink of garlic), it's too tempting not to have at least the garlic products on hand.  And, since the herbs last 3 months refrigerated in the tubes, you never have to worry about slimy fresh herbs in the bottom of your fridge crisper.

Find the entire Garden Gourmet line of products at your local grocery store.  They'll be in the refrigerated fresh herbs section of your produce aisle, priced around $3.78 each.