Name: Mussels with buttered polenta
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 80 gm hot salami, finely chopped; 2 tsp fennel seeds; 600 gm canned chopped tomatoes; 200 ml chicken stock; 1.5 kg black mussels, scrubbed, beards removed; 150 ml dry white wine; Buttered polenta; 500 ml chicken stock (2 cups); 300 gm instant polenta; 250 ml milk, warmed (1 cup); 80 gm parmesan, finely grated; 50 gm butter, coarsely chopped

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

80 gm hot salami, finely chopped

2 tsp fennel seeds

600 gm canned chopped tomatoes

200 ml chicken stock

1.5 kg black mussels, scrubbed, beards removed

150 ml dry white wine

Buttered polenta

500 ml chicken stock (2 cups)

300 gm instant polenta

250 ml milk, warmed (1 cup)

80 gm parmesan, finely grated

50 gm butter, coarsely chopped

Method

Main

1.Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and stir occasionally until tender (5-7 minutes). Add salami, cook until golden (2-3 minutes), then add fennel seeds and stir until fragrant (30 seconds). Add tomato and stock and simmer until slightly thickened (5-8 minutes).

2.Meanwhile, heat a deep-sided frying pan over high heat. Add mussels and wine, cover and stir occasionally until mussels open. Drain half the liquid, then add tomato mixture, bring to the simmer and season to taste.

3.For buttered polenta, bring stock to the boil in a large saucepan. Add polenta in a thin steady stream, whisking continuously, then bring to the simmer. Add milk, reduce heat to low and simmer until cooked (3-4 minutes; add water, if necessary, to achieve desired consistency), Add parmesan and butter and season to taste. Divide among plates, spoon mussels and cooking liquid over and serve.

Styling by Emma Knowles

Styling by Alice Storey

Styling by Geraldine Muñoz