Steamed Mussels With Tomato Coconut Curry
This steamed mussels with tomato coconut curry recipe is simple, easy, and SO delicious! All you need are 10 nutritious and flavourful ingredients, like coconut milk, canned tomatoes, shallots, garlic, and curry spices.
While they might feel like a fancy meal, did you know that mussels are surprisingly easy to cook at home? After giving them a good clean, all you really need to do is steam them for a few minutes in a delicious liquid!
In this dish, mussels are served with one of my favourite tomato coconut curry recipes. They pair so perfectly with one another and are a nice way to change things up from your traditional garlic white wine broth 🙂
As a dietitian, I’m also happy to share that mussels are a serious nutrition powerhouse – just check out these impressive nutrition benefits of mussels below!
Also included are some serving ideas as well as answers to frequently asked questions about cooking mussels, like tips for cleaning them, storing them, and making sure they’re still fresh. Enjoy!
Are Mussels Good For You? (Nutrition Benefits)
Like their name suggests, mussels are an excellent source of high-quality protein which helps to – well – build those muscles (among many other things)! A 100-gram serving of mussels provides about 24 grams of protein.
A 100-gram serving of mussels also provides over 100% of the daily value of micronutrients, like:
- vitamin B12
- manganese
- selenium
Mussels are also an excellent source of other micronutrients like:
- other B-vitamins, like thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and folate
- vitamin C
- iron
- zinc
- phosphorus
In addition, mussels provide smaller amounts of other vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, calcium potassium, and more.
They’re also a source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, too!
What To Serve With Coconut Curry Mussels
- Crusty bread, like toasted sourdough or baguette, is always a good idea. Use it to soak up the curry, place a mussel over top, and enjoy!
- Like crusty bread, mussels also go quite well with french fries. Feel free to make your own potato or veggie fries, if you’d prefer.
- This mussels recipe in particular would also taste delicious served over grains, like rice or quinoa.
- For even more flavour, serve with a squeeze of lime juice and garnish with fresh herbs, like parsley or basil.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Clean Mussels
- place mussels in a colander in the sink and run cold water over them
- using your hands or a scrubbing brush, scrub off any debris on the shell
- you can remove the “beard” of a mussel (that clump of hair-like fibers that come out of the shell) using your thumb and forefinger
How To Know If Mussels Are Bad
- if any mussels are already open before cooking them, give their shells a little tap and squeeze. If they do not close, discard them
- if any mussels do not open after cooking, discard those as well
- give mussels a smell before cooking – they should smell like ocean water, but not overly fishy
- once mussels are cooked, the best way to tell if they’re bad is by smelling and looking at them. If they have a sour smell and/or slimy texture, discard them (don’t taste them first!)
How Long Do Raw Mussels Keep In The Fridge?
- in general, mussels will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days after purchasing
- for safe storage, try keeping mussels stored over ice or keep them in an open container covered with damp cloths or paper towels
- raw mussels must be kept refrigerated at all times
How Long Do Cooked Mussels Keep?
- cooked mussels will usually stay fresh for 3-4 days in the fridge, but I’d recommend consuming them sooner if possible!
- be sure to refrigerate mussels within 2 hours of cooking
- you can easily reheat mussels with their broth in the microwave
How Many Mussels Per Person?
A standard serving of mussels is about 1 pound per person (with the shell on). This would be for a full meal; however, if you want to enjoy mussels as an appetizer this amount would likely serve 2-3 people!
More Seafood With Coconut Milk Recipes
- Poached Halibut With Tomato Coconut Curry
- Creamy Coconut Shrimp With Chili & Lime
- Salmon With Sweet Potato Mash & Miso Coconut Sauce
Did you give this Mussels With Tomato Coconut Curry Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!
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Get the Recipe: Steamed Mussels With Tomato Coconut Curry
Ingredients
- 2 pounds mussels, cleaned + debearded
- 1.5 tsp coconut oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 a small shallot, thinly sliced (about 3-4 Tbsp worth)
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 can diced tomatoes, with liquids (~398 ml or 13.5 fl oz.)
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- Salt + pepper, to taste
- Garnish: lime, fresh parsley, or fresh basil
Instructions
- Heat coconut oil in a large pan or pot over medium. Add garlic, shallots, curry powder, ground ginger, and cumin. Sauté for about 3 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add coconut milk, canned tomatoes (with liquids), and tomato paste to the pan. Season with salt + pepper and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Return heat to medium-high, then add mussels to the pan. Cover and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until all the shells have opened. You can carefully shake the pan once or twice during cooking, to distribute the mussels. Discard any shells that do not open.
- Serve with lime wedges and garnish with fresh herbs (as desired). See notes for more serving ideas!
Notes
- Cooked mussels will stay fresh for 3-4 days, but I would recommend consuming them sooner if possible!
- Be sure to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
- You can reheat mussels with the tomato curry in the microwave.
- Crusty bread, like toasted sourdough or baguette, is always a good idea. Use it to soak up the curry, place a mussel over top, and enjoy!
- Like crusty bread, mussels also go quite well with french fries. Feel free to make your own potato or veggie fries, if you’d prefer.
- This mussels recipe in particular would also taste delicious served over grains, like rice or quinoa.
- I used canned diced tomatoes (including their liquids) in this recipe, but you could use any canned tomatoes (just try to have them minimally flavoured).
- You can use olive oil or avocado oil in place of coconut oil, if desired.
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!
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2 Comments on “Steamed Mussels With Tomato Coconut Curry”
I made this Christmas eve. Amazing ly delicious especially leftovers that i ate the next two mornings. Love the broth. I needed to add some extra coconut milk. I used a can of fire roasted tomatoes. This is a keeper. I’m going to use it over today’s fresh clams.
Hi Deb! What a fun recipe to make for Christmas Eve – I love that so much! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review.
PS. you may also enjoy this poached halibut recipe – it uses the same broth ;). Wishing you a very happy start to the new year!!