Mussels with Sambuca and white wine cream, with baguette

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Sambuca, cream and leeks create a broth so flavourful, you may just want to enjoy it on its own. But served with meaty mussels and crusty bread is outstanding.

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Ingredients

2 pounds fresh mussels, in shell

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons salted butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 leek, thinly sliced, plus additional slices for garnish

¼ cup white wine

2 tablespoons Sambuca

¼ cup 35% whipping cream

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 baguette, to serve

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Preparation

Look for the very freshest mussels at your local fish market. Most times mussels have been scrubbed of their threads, but remove if you have to and rinse under cold water; discard any that are open.

Heat olive oil with butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and leeks and cook for 2 minutes. Add white wine, Sambuca and cream; cook for 7 minutes. Add mussels; cover saucepan and increase heat to high. Cook until mussels have opened, about 5 minutes. Discard all mussels that are closed after cooking. Spoon mussels and broth into serving bowls and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with leeks and serve with baguette.

To store mussels before use, wrap in a damp cloth and place in glass bowl, and place in coldest part of refrigerator, preferably in a bottom shelf drawer in case of a leak, to protect other food in your fridge.