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Cozze Gratinate (Classic Italian Stuffed Mussels)
Stuffed mussels, or "cozze gratinate" in Italian, are one of the great classics of Italian cuisine, especially in the southern regions of the country.Cozze gratinate can be served as an appetizer or a main course, often accompanied by a glass of crisp, white wine, making it a perfect choice for get-togethers or a luxurious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 kg mussels 2.2 pounds of, with their shell
- 2 cloves garlic
- 5 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 150 g breadcrumbs 1 ¼ cups
- ½ tablespoon oregano dried
- 60 g Pecorino Romano cheese ~¼ cup, grated
Instructions
- Clean the mussels by scraping off any impurities with the blade of a small knife. Tear off the byssus, that is the bearded part that comes out of the shell. Then, with the help of a stainless steel sponge, clean well their shells. Remove algae and sand residues and encrustations. Discard any broken or hatched mussels. Rinse the mussels quickly under running water, to remove all impurities. But do not let them soak in water for long.
- Place them in a very large pan with a clove of garlic. Cover with a lid and cook over high heat until the mussels open. This will only take a few minutes.
- Remove the mussels from the pan and place them in a bowl. Strain the cooking liquid through a very fine sieve into a cup.
- In a bowl, mix together 150 grams (1 ¼ cups) of breadcrumbs, 60 grams (~¼ cup) of grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and ½ tablespoon of dried oregano.
- Add 1 clove of minced or crushed garlic and 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. The mixture should be soft but not too moist.
- Place only the shells with the mussels in a baking dish. If the mussels are small, you can put two in the same shell. Then, using a teaspoon, fill the mussels, trying to cover the entire shell. Press the filling down a little, trying to compact it.
- Drizzle the stuffed mussels with a little oil and a few tablespoons of the mussel water you strained out.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 190°C (374°F) until the surface of the mussels is golden brown and the breadcrumbs have formed a crispy crust. This will take about 5 minutes. After about 3 minutes, if you want a crisper crust, switch to grill mode for a few minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 25gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 820mgPotassium: 508mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 277IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 274mgIron: 7mg
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