What to Do With Leftover Mussels?

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Do you have some leftover mussels lying around in your kitchen, and you have no idea what to do with them? Well, this isn’t an unusual situation, as all of them tend to have one thing or the other left out after making a delicious recipe. 

But considering that mussels are a little hard to cook and storing and reheating them is not too easy either, you might be a little unsure of what to do next. But don’t worry; we are here to help you get the most out of those leftover mussels. 

We have compiled a detailed guide for you containing some delicious and mouth-watering recipes you can make using the leftover mussels. We will also provide you with some useful methods to reheat the leftover mussels. 

Recipes to Make Using Leftover Mussles 

The best thing you can do with leftover mussels, in fact, the only thing you can do with them, is to use them in different newer recipes. Here we have picked out some exciting and easy recipes you can use your leftover mussels in and make them a part of your food table. 

Recipe #1: Making Pasta With Leftover Mussles 

The first thing we have enlisted here that you can easily make using your leftover mussels is pasta. Here is a detailed look at the ingredients and the procedure you need to follow to make pasta using leftover mussels. 

Ingredients 

• Leftover Mussles 
• Olive Oil (Extra Virgin) 
• Chicken Stock (1 cup) 
• Pasta( Dried) – (½ lb) 
• Unsalted Butter (1tbsp) 
• Black Pepper 
• Salt 
• Parsley 
• Herbs (Mixed) 

Procedure

Here are the steps you need to follow to make pasta with leftover muscles: 

1. Add water in a saucepan for boiling pasta. 
2. Use any pasta you like, i.e., fettuccine, spaghetti, etc. 
3. Add a pinch of salt to the water, followed by adding the pasta. 
4. Let the pasta boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Ensure not to overboil the pasta and keep it underdone. 
5. Add the leftover mussels to a separate pan and heat them in the broth. Keep the flame low. 

Note: If you don’t have mussels in broth, heat them in a cup of chicken stock. 

1. Set the mussels aside after heating them. 
2. Add cold butter (1 tbsp) to the same pan and stir it thoroughly to make a thick sauce. 
3. Add salt, mixed herbs, and pepper to taste into the sauce and stir. 
4. Include the brothy mussels into the sauce and let the sauce thicken. 
5. Now include the boiled pasta into the sauce and let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. 
6. Sprinkle Parsley over the pasta, and serve it hot once it’s done. 

Recipe #2: Mussels in Lemon Garlic Butter 

You can also make an appetizer dish using the leftover mussels and serve it before the main course. We have given the detailed procedure below for you. 

Ingredients

• Leftover Mussles (4 lb) 
• Unsalted Butter (2 tbsp) 
• Fresh Garlic (Crushed) – 2 tsp 
• Onion (Finely Chopped) – 1 small 
• Fresh Cream (1 cup) 
• Chilli Flakes (½ tsp) 
• Salt – To taste 
• Black Pepper – To taste 
• Lemon Juice – 1 lemon 
• Parsley (Chopped) – (½ cup) 

Procedure

1. Add the unsalted butter to a pan and saute Onion in it. 
2. Include Garlic paste and Chilli flakes into the pan when the onions turn golden brown. 
3. Add Cream to the pan and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. 
4. Add the Musseles to the pan now and cover the pan with the lid. 
5. Keep the flame low. 
6. Turn off the flame after 5 minutes. 
7. Season with salt and black pepper. 
8. Sprinkle some parsley for garnishing after stirring through the lemon juice first. 
9. Your Leftover Mussels in Lemon, Garlic, and Butter are ready to be served. 

Recipe #3: Mussel Chowder 

Next up on the list is the recipe you can follow to make mussel chowder. It’s one of the healthiest recipes you can come across having mussels and is pretty fulfilling. 

Ingredients 

• Leftover Mussles (4 ½ lb) 
• Chopped Carrots (2 Medium) 
• Chopped Leeks (2 Medium) 
• Chopped Orange Bell Pepper (2) 
• Chopped Shallot (1 Large) 
• Olive Oil (2 tbsp) 
• Black Pepper (½ tsp) 
• Salt (½ tsp) 
• Heavy or Double Cream (¼ cup) 
• Minced Garlic Cloves (2 large) 

Procedure 

1. Firstly, separate the cooking liquid from the mussels using a sieve lined with a kitchen towel. 
2. Use a big knife to halve the mussels. 
3. Wash the leeks thoroughly in cold water and drain away all the water well. 
4. Add butter to a sauce pace followed by adding bell peppers, leeks, shallots, and carrots into it. 
5. Add salt and black pepper to the same pan and saute for a few minutes. 
6. You can also add some oil to the pan for quick cooking. 
7. The cooking will take around 6 to 7 minutes. 
8. Now stir garlic in another pan, add mussels into it, and let them cook for around 3 to 4 minutes. 
9. Add cream into the same pan, include all the simmered veggies, and stir for another 5 minutes. 
10. Sprinkle salt and pepper for seasoning, and you are done. 

Check out this YouTube video to seek guidance regarding making the Mussels Chowder at home:

Recipe #4: Mussels With Garlic and Parsley 

You can also use the leftover mussels if they are steamed to make a dish called steamed mussels in garlic and Parsley. Below is the entire procedure you can follow for this. 

Ingredients 

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 tbsp) – Some extra for toast 
• Minced Garlic Cloves (2) 
• Whole Garlic Cloves for Toast ( 1 to 2) 
• Crushed Red Pepper (A Pinch) 
• Leftover Mussels (4) 
• Water (¼ Cup) 
• Lengthwise Split and Crosswise Cut Baguette (1) 
• Chopped Parsley (1 Cup) 

Procedure 

1. Add Olive Oil to a Soup Pot, include garlic paste and red pepper to it, and stir for 30 seconds. 
2. Now add mussels along with water and let the mussels coat for around 2 minutes. 
3. Apply Oil to the Cut sides of the Baguette. 
4. Toast the baguette pieces on a pan with the cut side up. 
5. Rub the whole garlic cloves on the toast. 
6. Season the mussels with Parsley and add the broth into a bowl.
7. Serve with garlic toast. 

Recipe #5: Mussel Stew 

If you are a savoury lover more than dry mussel dishes, this recipe will indeed trigger your appetite. 

Ingredients 

• Garlic Bulb (1) 
• Medium Onion (Cut into large-sized pieces) – 1 
• Leftover Mussels (2 lb) 
• Ginger (Freshly Peeled) – 1-inch 
• Olive Oil (1 tbsp) 
• Unsalted Butter (4 tbsp)
• Lemon Juice (2 tbsp) 
• Chopped Parsley (¼ cup) 
• Chopped Fennel Fronds (¼ cup) 
• Dried and Crushed Red Pepper (½ tsp) 
• Kosher Salt (1 ½ tsp) 
• Crushed Tomatoes (1 Cup) 
• Bay Leaf (1) 

Procedure 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Remove the top of the Garlic bulb to expose the cloves. 
3. Brush some garlic paste and olive oil on the bulb and wrap it in aluminium foil. 
4. Let the bulb roast for 1 hour, and once done, set it aside. 
5. When the garlic cools down, separate the cloves. 
6. Add butter to a saucepan and include onions in it. 
7. Let the onions cook for 5 to 7 minutes until they are caramelized. 
8. Stir the caramelized onions in the bay left, tomatoes, roasted garlic cloves, salt, red pepper, and water. 
9. Once the stew begins simmering, reduce the flame and let it cook for over 10 to 15 minutes. 
10. Add leftover mussels into the stew, cover the pan, and let the stew cook for around 3 minutes. 
11. Ensure to keep the flame on medium-low. 
12. Season with Parsley after stirring the stew in some lemon juice. 
13. Your Mussels Stew is all set to be served. 

Here is another interesting spicy spanish mussels recipe you can try yourself. 

Methods for Reheating Leftover Mussels 

Now that you have looked at some recipes you can make using the leftover mussels let me take you through some methods you can use to reheat them so they appear all fresh and new. 

Method #1: Reheating Mussels In Broth 

The first method you can use is to reheat the leftover mussels in the broth. Here are the steps you are required to follow for this method: 

1. Add the broth into a saucepan and let it reheat for around 5 minutes. 
2. Once you see the broth bubbling up, remove it from the heat. 
3. Add your leftover mussels into the broth and stir them thoroughly. 
4. Your mussels are all hot and ready to be served. 

Note: Using this method, you can save your mussels from going into the cooking phase again. Also, if you are planning to go for this method, it’s best to deshell the mussels before adding them to the broth. 

Method #2: Steaming the Mussels 

Another method you can use for reheating your leftover mussels is the steaming method. This is a pretty quick and straightforward method and involves the following steps: 

1. Set up a steamer and put it to heat. 
2. Let the water on the base of the steamer heat up a bit. 
3. Deshell the mussels if you want and spread them evenly on the top surface of the steamer. 
4. Cover the steamer with a lid. 
5. Wait for 30 to 60 seconds before turning off the flame. 
6. Once done, remove the mussels from the steamer and serve them hot. 

Note: Ensure the water is not touching the mussel’s surface. 

Method #3: Reheating Mussels In Microwave 

Here is what you need to do to reheat the leftover mussels in the microwave: 

1. Place the leftover mussels on a microwave-friendly plate. 
2. Make sure that there is enough space between each mussel. 
3. Sprinkle some water over the mussels. 
4. Use a damp towel to cover them. 
5. Put them into the microwave and warm them up for a few seconds. 
6. Keep on checking them after every 10 to 15 seconds, and serve them once they are warm.

Conclusion – What to Do With Leftover Mussels?

In this guide, we have provided you with some delectable recipes you can try using the leftover cooked mussels. We have tried to make the recipes as simple as possible for you and included all the details crucial for the cooking process. 

We have also taken you through some methods you can use for reheating the leftover mussels. Using these reheating methods, you can reheat and consume the leftover mussels on their own, and they will feel all fresh and warm. 

Hopefully, this write-up will make the process of reheating the leftover mussels and using them in different recipes in the future easier and hassle-free for you. Thanks for stopping by!