Mussel Pasta In Spicy Tomato Sauce
This recipe for pasta with mussels in spicy tomato sauce is a perfect example of a dish that is greatly enhanced by the quality of the wine used to cook it. Fresh mussels are steamed open in a garlicky Prophecy Sauvignon Blanc–infused broth, which is used to build the spicy tomato sauce. The light citrus notes in the wine lend an unexpected and totally craveable brightness to the sauce.
The best part about this recipe? Not only can you use Prophecy Sauvignon Blanc, but you can also pour a cold glass of the same wine to pair perfectly with the pasta. The hints of citrus in the tomato sauce are accentuated by pairing it with a glass of Prophecy Sauvignon Blanc, with its undertones of grapefruit and lime zest. Enjoy!
Brought to you by our friends at Prophecy Wine.
- 4 large garlic cloves
- 1 cup Prophecy Sauvignon Blanc
- 2 pounds mussels
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 2 14.5-ounce cans diced, peeled tomatoes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons red chili flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil
- Add crushed garlic clove and Prophecy Sauvignon Blanc to a wide saucepan and bring to a boil. Add mussels, cover and cook for 4 minutes, or until mussels open up. Transfer all open mussels to a bowl. Discard all mussels that did not open. Strain ½ cup of the mussel broth and reserve.
- When the mussels are cool enough to handle, remove 1/2 from their shells and transfer to a small bowl. Leave the rest of the mussels intact. Set aside while you cook the tomato sauce and pasta.
- Heat olive oil over medium in a large pan. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, the reserved mussel broth and the chili flakes and simmer for 15-20 minutes, uncovered. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and season generously with salt. Cook your pasta al dente, following the package directions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
- Pour the warm tomato sauce over the pasta, add the mussel meat (without shells), and toss gently until all pasta is coated in sauce. Divide the pasta between 4 bowls, top with intact (shell on) mussels and garnish with extra-virgin olive oil and fresh herbs. Enjoy immediately!