Smoky Mussels Pomodoro (Printable)

A vibrant, smoky tomato-based mussel dish. Fresh seafood and bold Mediterranean flavors come together quickly for an easy meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1.5 lbs fresh mussels, scrubbed and debearded

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

→ Tomatoes

06 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste

→ Seasonings

08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Liquids

11 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
12 - 1/4 cup water

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
14 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How-To:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
03 - Add smoked paprika, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
04 - Pour in white wine and water; bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
05 - Add mussels to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly and cook for 5–7 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until all mussels have opened. Discard any mussels that remain closed.
06 - Taste the broth and adjust seasoning as needed. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges and crusty bread.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoky tomato sauce is exactly what you want to soak up with crusty bread, maybe even lick the plate a little
  • Twenty five minutes from start to finish means you can have restaurant quality seafood on a Tuesday night
  • Everything cooks in one pan, leaving you with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor payoff
02 -
  • Any mussels that remain closed after cooking must be discarded, they are not safe to eat no matter how tempting it might be
  • The sauce should be loose and spoonable, not thick like a pasta sauce, because you want it to soak into that bread
  • Shake the pan instead of stirring with a spoon, this helps cook the mussels evenly without breaking their delicate shells
03 -
  • Buy mussels the same day you plan to cook them, they are highly perishable and lose quality quickly
  • Have everything prepped and ready before you start cooking, because once those mussels hit the pan, everything moves fast
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