Marinated Mussels

I came up with this recipe many years ago when I ran across an awesome sale on mussels and wanted to extend the joy! They make a wonderful Appetizer/hors d'oeuvres as well as a decadent snack. They keep in the refrigerator for a few months (IF they last that long!)

1 Batch (basically 1 cup) Herb Salad dressing
2 Pounds Steamed Mussels
2 or more cloves Elephant Garlic

Start with the Herb Salad Dressing, posted earlier.
The mussels are best if fresh, but they are not always in season - they are commonly available frozen and when cooked according to the directions, are very suitable.
If you are using fresh mussels - make sure they are all alive (shell tightly closed - with those that are slightly open - tap another against it's shell, if it doesn't close, throw it away.) Rinse the shells to remove any loose debris and remove the beards - the beards are the fibers that the mussel produces to attach itself to rocks. Take a dull butter knife and pinch the fibers found along the seam of the shell, between the knife and your thumb, and pull the fibers away. If you are using frozen mussels - check for a beard, but most I've come across have the beard already removed. Steam the mussels until they open, Discard those that won't open - they were dead (you don't know for how long or from what - you only want to eat the ones that were healthy). Remove the meat from the shells, use a dull knife to scrape off the muscle that adheres the meat to the shell.

I like to layer thin slices of Elephant Garlic and mussel meat, in the marinade. Sliced shallot, small button mushrooms, sliced or quartered larger mushooms make great additions. I use a quart size canning jar to store the marinated mussels in the refrigerator. An empty mayonnaise  jar or other or similar container will also work. Periodically holding the jar horizontally and "rolling" it in your hands will mix it well. The mussels can be eaten immediately. At that point they are simply coated with the salad dressing, after about a week the marinade will start to penetrate and enhance the flavor.

 A Mandolin Peeler makes short work of slicing the Elephant Garlic.

 For serving - They can be eaten straight from the jar, I like to place a slice of Elephant Garlic on a cracker then a mussel on top. They also make an awesome addition to a Caprese Salad.