Cooking for One
Mussels for One (or Two)
Popular on Food52
60 Reviews
Sandra T.
October 1, 2023
Have been making this since first published. My go to for a quick and easy, but simply sumptuous dinner with family and friends. And don't some crusty bread for sopping up the sauce!
Rochelle
October 7, 2018
!These are the best mussels I have ever had.... anywhere !
Thank you LND for a new fave.
Thank you LND for a new fave.
keg72
March 2, 2015
Excellent flavors. I found that it needed a good bit of salt to sharpen the flavors, but that was easily done. You definitely want to have a lot of good bread on-hand for soaking up the sauce!
Scribbles
February 25, 2012
I prepared this for dinner last night and it was very yummy! We had a crusty baguette and a bottle of french rose wine - very nice meal. Thanks for the entry!
Brenzo
December 10, 2011
Made this for supper tonight--was great!! My hubby and I really enjoyed.
Thanks!
Thanks!
ThrillaVanilla
October 12, 2011
I made this and savored it all by myself with a large glass of pinot grigio... let me tell you.......WOW! The flavors were just meant to be, the fennel, the tomato, the cream, the saffron, and the crusty bread (a must!) plus I had no Pernod but my Ouzo did the trick just fine. In a word this dish is ~~~SEXY~~~. Thanks lastnightsdinner for a fine meal.
jas53
September 16, 2011
I have made this three times now, and neither I nor my guests can get enough of it. Thanks so much for sharing!
Auntie M.
August 2, 2011
Another fantastic meal from food 52! Thanks to all who post wonderful recipes and to you LND, always yummy!
sarah K.
April 8, 2011
At the market today, I couldn't pass up buying some mussels for the first time, after reading this recipe. Unfortunately, I didn't remember all the ingredients, so I'm here at home, sort of improvising without the leeks, fennel, or Pernod. I hope that doesn't completely ruin it! I've used regular onions, celery, and some actual anise seed. Next time, I'll be ready!
olin77
November 2, 2010
I made this dish for my best friend and wife last night. When we ran out of Sulivan Street Bakery bread to sop up the creamy goodness, a chorus of slurping ensued. The sign of a fundamentally great dish: it has been lingering on the mind all morning...
Well done, lastnightsdinner.
Well done, lastnightsdinner.
lastnightsdinner
November 2, 2010
Wow, thanks - so glad you enjoyed it! And I do miss Sullivan Street Bakery bread... yum!
annalea
September 20, 2010
Made this tonight - tried to share, but ended up enjoying most of it myself. Excellent!
mrslarkin
May 22, 2010
Made these today. Simple recipe, delicious results! The sauce is so tasty - even without the cream. Definitely a keeper, this one.
Oui, C.
January 27, 2010
This makes it a hat-trick, yes? Well done, and congratulations!
lastnightsdinner
January 27, 2010
It does, and thank you! And ironic that I win a "home alone" challenge just as my husband is ready to embark on a new career path, making our schedules totally opposite! Great for him, and I'm so proud but I'm looking at many solo dinners in my future!
pierino
January 27, 2010
Congratulations! But I hope to overcome your formidable talents in the offal people challenge.
lastnightsdinner
January 27, 2010
Thank you! If ever there was a challenge tailor made for a pierino win, it's the nose-to-tail one ;D
dymnyno
January 27, 2010
With the exception of the saffron this is very similar to the one I make all the time...one of my favorites! Maybe I will try adding the saffron next time.
Oui, C.
January 24, 2010
I never really cared for mussels much until I tried them in France while living there for a few years, now I can't get enough of them. This dish has all the classic flavors that I enjoyed with them there, I can't wait to try it!
Amber O.
January 24, 2010
My husband came home yesterday with 5 pounds of mussels so I called the neighbors (great friends) and we had a feast! Quadrupling all the ingredients just didn't feel right, especially the Pernod which can be overpowering, so I made a stock from the fennel and leek trimmings and used that with some vermouth and 2 TB Pernod to create a little more broth to share.Fennel vegie love! Used all the butter, though, and half the olive oil. Truly delicious recipe! Thanks bunches.
Jennifer A.
January 24, 2010
What a luscious dinner I had last night! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
lastnightsdinner
January 22, 2010
Thanks, Kelsey and arielleclementine!
And do I spy an "old English D" on that wine glass in the background? :D
And do I spy an "old English D" on that wine glass in the background? :D
Kelsey B.
January 21, 2010
Yes another great recipe form lastnightsdinnr! Mussels are a great idea for a one person meal, I love the addition of saffron, too.
mariaraynal
January 21, 2010
Beautiful recipe. Great flavors and techniques. As a side note: Tony Bourdain ate at the Cadieux Cafe when he visited Detroit for No Reservations. And I live nearby!
adashofbitters
January 21, 2010
Jen was extremely excited to see Cadieux on No Res. The place looks supremely cool.
lastnightsdinner
January 21, 2010
Maria, I've never had the chance to take Mike to Cadieux when we've been visiting, but next time we're in town, we'll have to make a date with you for mussels and feather bowling :D
mariaraynal
January 23, 2010
We'd love that! Funny thing is, I've never been there. I'm probably the only person in town...
WinnieAb
January 21, 2010
Love mussels but have never made them at home. Thanks for another fantastic recipe LND!
PhoebeLapine
January 20, 2010
This looks so yum! mussels are a great one pot meal for one--and my favorite thing to eat!
TheWimpyVegetarian
January 14, 2010
I make a big pot of bouillabaise every Christmas Eve and it's very similar to this recipe with homemade bread and a big salad. I love it!
lastnightsdinner
January 14, 2010
Thanks! My husband and I love bouillabaisse, but even when we try to scale it down, we always end up with far too much for two! So this is a nice way to get those flavors in a solo dinner.
deensiebat
January 13, 2010
my boyfriend is lactose intolerant, and not a huge fan of mussels (plus has recently requested that maybe we not have saffron in nearly every dish). this is most definitely going to be my meal-for-one when he's out of town next week..
deensiebat
January 23, 2010
my friend proposed having a girls' night in around her fireplace, so i made the veg prep up to the point of mussels, wrapped up my half loaf of crusty bread, filled a jar with a bit of milk (we didn't have cream), picked up a meshy bag of mussels en route, and arrived at her house. only to find that the mussels were bad! really bad! like all dead and open! ah well. i left the jar of sauteed deliciousness at her house for her to try again tomorrow, which come to think of it would be a pretty awesome present for anyone. i didn't have pernod, and threw in a bit of orange zest instead, but otherwise followed the recipe pretty much exactly. smelled heavenly.
at T.
January 13, 2010
This is the way to treat yourself to a solo meal. Looks delicious!
lastnightsdinner
January 13, 2010
Thanks! And we are lucky to have a wonderful shellfish purveyor at our local farmers' market :)
Rhonda35
January 11, 2010
This sounds like mussels bouillabaise - with the saffron, fennel and Pernod - I can taste it already - delicious! It looks so pretty, too. This would be just as nice for company as it is for eating alone. :-)
lastnightsdinner
January 11, 2010
Thanks! It's definitely inspired by bouillabaisse - those are some of my favorite flavors, particularly in combination :)
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