Mussel Soup with Saffron and White Wine

Creamy Mussel Soup
with Saffron and White Wine

Last week I prepared this soup as a starter for 120 guests – it was nothing short of perfection!  I am still receiving calls for the recipe!  I hope you enjoy it as much as they did.

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 to 40 minutes
Serves: 6

This is a perfect first-course soup. Saffron adds not only its subtle flavor but beautiful color.

Ingredients

• 1.5kg mussels, scrubbed and debearded
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large leek (white and tender green), well rinsed and minced
• 1 medium celery rib, minced
• 2-1/2 cups fish stock or clam juice
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• 12 black peppercoms
• 12 parsley stems
• 1 teaspoon saffron threads
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

1. In a nonreactive soup pot, combine mussels and wine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover, and cook until mussels have opened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove mussels from shells, reserving 6 large mussels and 6 half-shells for garnish. Discard any mussels that don’t open. Strain cooking liquid through a fine sieve into a large bowl.
2. In same soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add leek and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add fish stock, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, parsley, saffron, remaining cooked mussels, and reserved mussel liquid. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf.
3. In a food processor or blender, purée soup in batches until smooth and return to soup pot. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl, blend cornstarch with cream and stir into soup. Add salt and pepper and simmer, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Strain soup through a sieve into a large saucepan and simmer over medium heat until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Divide soup among 6 soup plates and garnish each serving with a mussel on the half-shell.

Happy Cooking!

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