Green Mussels in Oyster Sauce ala Street Food Stalls to Seafood Restaurants: Practical, Minimal Ingredients, but the Taste is Champion

Kapanlagi.com - The dish of green mussels in oyster sauce has always been a favorite, both at street food stalls and in upscale seafood restaurants. The chewy texture of the mussels combined with the savory oyster sauce creates a delightful flavor that tantalizes the taste buds.

Although it seems complicated, making this dish is actually quite easy. With simple ingredients that are easy to find, you can serve a restaurant-style menu at home.

The key to the deliciousness of this dish lies in the freshness of the mussels and the right blend of spices. Here is a practical recipe that can be followed, even by beginners.

1. Ingredients and Cooking Steps for Green Mussels in Oyster Sauce

Main Ingredients

• 1 kg fresh green mussels
• 5 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 cm ginger, thinly sliced
• 2 large red chilies, diagonally sliced
• 2 large green chilies, diagonally sliced
• 1 stalk green onion, roughly chopped
• 150 ml water
• Salt, ground pepper, and mushroom broth to taste

Note: Make sure to wash the mussels thoroughly and scrub them to remove dirt from their shells.

2. Cooking Steps

1. Boil the Mussels Until Cooked

• Boil the mussels in boiling water until their shells open.
• Drain and discard the boiling water to reduce the fishy smell.

2. Sauté the Spices Until Fragrant

• Heat a little oil in a pan.
• Sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
• Add the sliced ginger, red chilies, green chilies, and green onion. Sauté until wilted.

3. Cook the Mussels with Oyster Sauce

• Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, salt, ground pepper, and mushroom broth to the pan. Pour in water and mix well.
• Add the mussels, stir occasionally, and cook until the spices are absorbed and the sauce thickens slightly.

4. Adjust the Taste and Serve

• Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning.
• Serve the green mussels in oyster sauce while warm with white rice.

3. Tips for Making Green Mussels with Oyster Sauce

• Choose Fresh Mussels
  Fresh mussels have tightly closed shells and do not smell rotten.

• Cooking Water for Extra Flavor
  Use filtered cooking water from the mussels as a substitute for broth.

• Enhance Spiciness
  Add bird's eye chilies if you like your dishes spicy.

4. Procedure and Tips for Cooking Green Mussels with Oyster Sauce

1. Selection and Cleaning of Green Mussels

The key to the deliciousness of this dish lies in the freshness of the green mussels. Choose green mussels that are still fresh with tightly closed shells and no strong fishy smell. Ensure the mussels are still alive or just recently dead; avoid mussels that have been dead for a long time as they can affect the taste and quality of the dish.

After obtaining fresh green mussels, the next step is to clean them thoroughly. Scrub the outer part of the mussel shell using an old toothbrush or a special brush for cleaning mussels, ensuring no dirt remains. Then wash the mussels thoroughly under running water to remove any remaining dirt, and make sure to check the condition of the mussels again.

2. Initial Boiling of Green Mussels

The initial boiling aims to cook the mussels and facilitate the process of opening the shells. Boil enough water in a pot, then add the cleaned green mussels, it doesn’t take long, just boil the mussels until their shells open, which usually takes about 5-10 minutes.

Once the shells are open, immediately remove the mussels and drain them, discard the first boiling water to eliminate any dirt and fishy smell that may still linger. This step also helps reduce the risk of food poisoning. Then set the mussels aside.

3.Preparation of Spices and Stir-Frying Process

Grind the spices such as garlic and pepper, this ground spice will be the base of the savory flavor in the dish. Additionally, thinly slice ingredients like ginger, red chili, green chili, and green onions that will enhance the aroma and flavor of the oyster sauce. You can adjust the level of spiciness to your taste by controlling the amount of chili.

Heat vegetable oil in a pan, then sauté the ground garlic until fragrant and golden brown. After that, add the sliced ginger, red chili, green chili, and green onions, sauté again until the ingredients are wilted and release a delicious aroma, making sure not to sauté for too long so that the texture and color of the chili remain appealing.

4. Making Oyster Sauce and Cooking Shellfish

After the sautéed spices are cooked, add oyster sauce, soy sauce, ground pepper, salt, and chicken or mushroom broth, stir well until all the spices are perfectly mixed. Then, pour in water and cook until the sauce boils, let it boil for a while to allow the flavors to infuse.

Put the boiled green mussels into the pan with the boiling oyster sauce. Stir well to ensure the mussels are evenly coated with the sauce. Cover the pan and cook for about 5-10 minutes, or until the spices penetrate the mussel meat, occasionally stir the mussels to cook evenly and allow the spices to infuse well.

5. Serving and Additional Tips

Once cooked, remove the green mussels in oyster sauce and serve while warm. This dish is best enjoyed with warm white rice. You can also add a squeeze of lime to enhance the freshness, as well as a sprinkle of fried shallots to add a savory flavor.

For a richer flavor, you can use the leftover boiling water from the mussels as a substitute for water in making the sauce. However, make sure that the boiled water has been filtered first to remove impurities. For those who enjoy a spicy taste, you can also add slices of bird's eye chili to your liking.

5. What to do if the mussels do not open when boiled?

Mussels that do not open are likely dead before cooking. It is best to discard these mussels as they are not safe to eat.

6. Can green mussels be substituted with other types of mussels?

Yes. Clams or bamboo clams can be used as alternatives, but the cooking time needs to be adjusted.

7. What are the benefits of consuming green mussels?

Green mussels are rich in protein, iron, vitamin B12, and omega-3, which are good for health

8. Can oyster sauce be substituted?

It can be replaced with other sauces like teriyaki sauce or black pepper, although the final taste will be different.

(kpl/srr)