Mussels with Wild Garlic, Bacon and Cider. Cooked on the beach

Beach Cooking: Mussels with Wild Garlic, Bacon and Cider

Spring is that time of year when most of us get giddy at the signs of warmer weather and the promise of a long lazy summer ahead.  I like to start this time of year off with a good decluttering and making my home look like its shed a few pounds.  I want to embrace the all the good things ahead carefree and unhindered such as  festival planning, family meet ups and sunshine snoozes at the beach hut.  

I also like to take full advantage of all the free food I can get my hands on, whether that’s fruit, vegetables and herbs which either I grow or can forage locally.  Luckily enough I found a clump of wild garlic in a woodland a short walk away from the beach and I’ve been raiding it mercilessly ever since.  

Mussels cooked on the beach with freshly picked wild garlic, bacon and cider

 

Here’s a video of my latest video showing how I cooked that wild garlic and maybe soon I’ll fish for my own mussels too!

 

 

Mussels cooked on the beach with freshly picked wild garlic, bacon and cider

Forage for your wild garlic in woodland and add instead of bulb garlic

 

Mussels with Wild Garlic, Bacon and Cider

400g fresh live mussels

1 onion, chopped

3 slices smoked bacon, chopped

1 large handful wild garlic, shredded

300ml dry cider

Firstly you need to pick your wild garlic, this can be found in most woodlands and the best bit it’s free!  One large handful is plenty for this dish and if you pick two have two handfuls you’ve got enough for a feast.

Mussels need a little preparation but not much, remove any beards attached and discard any that remain opened once pinched together or when the shell is tapped and place into a large bowl and rinse in water, drain and your ready to go.

Chop an onion and some smoked bacon and add these to a pan with some oil and fry until the onion starts to soften.

Shred the wild garlic and add this to the pan and allow to wilt a little then add some dry cider and let this cook down to reduce to about half.

Add the mussels, place the lid on and cook until the mussels have opened.  You may need to check this from time to time but this should take around 4-5 minutes.

Dish up and serve with fries or bread to mop up those delicious juices.

 

mussels cooked on the beach with freshly pricked wild garlic, bacon and cider

Mussels with Wild Garlic, Bacon and Cider cooked on the beach

7 Comments

  • Reply trish MacCurrach 5th April 2017 at 4:41 pm

    Well done, it is fab. I often do mussels in the kotlich and it works really well.

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 7th April 2017 at 10:46 am

      Hi Trish, yes must try this soon. You at Good Life Experience this year? We are.

  • Reply Lucy Melissa Smith 11th April 2017 at 8:53 pm

    These look delicious! My boyfriend adores mussels so I think this would be his perfect dish. We haven’t had them for ages so you’ve inspired me to give them another go sometime soon as something different for us xx

  • Reply Carolynne @ Mummy Endeavours 12th April 2017 at 10:50 am

    Wow bet those smell delicious. I must admit to never having tried mussels, I’m a bit scared of seafood. Maybe I need to get over that!!! x

    • Reply Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook 12th April 2017 at 5:47 pm

      I found that eating in a good well trusted restaurant helps get used to certain foods then you’re away!

  • Reply Lindsey 16th April 2017 at 10:09 am

    I absoluetly love mussels and this outdoor treat looks truly scrumptious.

  • Reply Janice 23rd April 2017 at 6:41 pm

    Oh my goodness, you have all my favourite food groups in there. It also looks a lot of fun to cook it outdoors.

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