I love muscles mussels! And I do mean all types. But this has nothing to do with my New Year’s resolution to personally uncover or build more of them. This has to do with one of the best and affordable shellfish out there. Beautiful black and/or greenish shells. When opened the plump yet tender mussels are full of flavor and enhanced by wonderful sauces. So say hello to Linguine with Mussels and Chorizo! Why not take it up a notch?! Easy to cook and easy to eat – sometimes uncontrollably. And always, always serve mussels with fresh baguettes or Italian bread.
Don’t you love it when you see mussels on the menu? “Would you like the red or white sauce, ma’am?” ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite questions because it means I’m not cooking 🙂 and I’m about to eat more seafood. My husband John has nicknamed me “Surf and Surf”. I think it’s funny and my family (haha) sure has caught on…but don’t read too much into it. Literally, I can’t get enough shellfish. So I’m not a cheap date…but at least I’m predictable (and still fun)!
Needless to say, when you want to eat a lot of mussels, it’s a great shellfish to make at home. I frequent Costco’s “traveling road show events”…excellent seafood and selection at a fair price. But call ahead because it usually only happens around holiday weekends.
The presentation of a huge platter of freshly steamed mussels is a real crowd pleaser. Very colorful with the bright tomatoes and fresh basil. And mussels can make a family meal or gathering fun and quite interactive. With the boys, it’s more like a race. The vultures surround the table and hands start moving…watch out! In fact, like any experienced cook, I’ve learned to keep a few aside for myself. 🙂
This recipe was inspired by Marie, an Italian food blogger over at Proud Italian Cook. Her recipe for grilled clams is fabulous! These clams are wonderful by themselves, but I thought, why not try a version of the sauce with mussels and serve it over some delicious linguine? I can serve it as a meal and try to control the vultures! At least for the first serving. Results? My family went crazy. All was gone in a flash. And if it seems like my 2015 is off with a seafood theme, beginning with Shrimp, Avocado, & Spinach Pasta with a Mango Vinaigrette, you are right!
And let me say RIGHT NOW that you cannot make enough of this sauce. There is always leftover bread and pasta and the leftovers will be enjoyed and fought over as much as the meal itself! Fresh garlic, diced onion, chorizo, clam juice, wine, tomatoes, and basil…there is no better combination! See the before and after below?
So shellfish lovers, get ready for a one-of-a-kind meal. Linguine with Mussels and Chorizo – yum! Enjoy the sauce with clams or mussels or frankly almost anything. And don’t be shy about making too much sauce!
If you are interested, check out the pasta made by us here at The Pasta Shoppe. Sorry but regular linguine will not be found! And if you have any fundraising needs, or know someone who does, please check out Fun Pasta Fundraising!
PrintLinguine with Mussels and Chorizo
Fabulous Mussels and Chorizo over Linguine…a wonderful meal! Don’t forget the baguette! Note: I would double this recipe! I could have used more sauce!
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb. linguine (or other long pasta like angel hair or spaghetti) – note: you’ll use about 1/2 the pasta for one sauce recipe
- 1 5 lb. bag of mussels
- 1 lb. chorizo (can sub Italian sausage if you like)
- 1 28 oz. can of whole Italian tomatoes
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz. bottle of clam juice
- 1 bottle dark beer (any brand will do)
- 1 cup white wine (use something inexpensive and dry)
- 1 ounce or more fresh basil, torn or chopped, plus more for garnish
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 t. sugar
- 1/2 t. red pepper flakes
- 3 T. butter
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain, rinse and keep aside.
- For sauce, brown chorizo in large sauce pan. About half way until done, add onion, stir for a couple of minutes and then add garlic. To drain excess fat, remove pan from stove top, tilt pan, and use paper towel to soak up fat. Helps to have 2 sets of hands!
- Remove whole tomatoes from can and dice on a cutting board. Add tomatoes and all juice to sauce pan.
- Add clam juice, white wine, basil, oregano, salt, red pepper, and sugar to pan. Simmer on med-low for 20-25 minutes. You will add the butter to the sauce right before serving.
- In the meantime, rinse the mussels and remove any whose shells are cracked or open. (a very small opening is OK). Add beer to a large deep stock pot. Bring to medium high heat until beer is steaming. Add mussels to stock pot. Cover with lid. In about 3 minutes, open and stir mussels to move them around the pot. Cover again for approximately 2-4 minutes more. Mussels are ready when they are all open! Cooking time does vary because of heat and pot…but they are ready when opened!
- Add butter to sauce and combine thoroughly.
- On a plate or platter, add your preference of pasta. Top with sauce and plenty of mussels. Then add some more sauce and fresh basil and parsley. Serve with hot fresh bread!
- I had some pasta leftover and realized I needed more sauce – so please double for maximum enjoyment!
Notes
Double this recipe if you can…I wish I had! I used approximately half the pasta for one recipe of the sauce.
This is beautiful! I’ll be making this with mussels now! Looks wonderful.
Marie! What a complement from my favorite Italian blogger! Thanks for inspiring me for years…and for anyone who wants to see delicious food and beautiful photos, be sure to check out Proud Italian Cook!
Wow! This one sounds amazing!!! And, by the way, I’m loving your seafood twist to kick off 2015! Happy New Year.
Thanks Kathy! Same to you…and I promise more seafood!
Look delicious
Love it
Yummy 🙂
this sounds so good! Think I’ll try it today.
YUMMY! I am also a Surf and Surf girl!
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We should start a dinner club! Only seafood…wouldn’t that be fun?!
mussels! What’s not to love?!
Agreed!
hmm looks good never tried mussels now I want to
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Hmm, I don’t think I would like this!
Noooo seafood for me.
Well, hopefully you’ll find some other recipes on the blog that you will like! 🙂
This recipe looks amazing! I love mussels and I love seafood with pasta! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Please try it – you’ll really love it!
This looks good like to try it
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I am getting hungry just looking at this pic! I have to try this recipe!!!
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Thanks Kathleen! I know you’ll love the way it tastes too!
Looking delicious! Yummy
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That looks very fancy! I’m not a fan of shellfish myself, but I would make this for my family!
Looks fancy, but really isn’t! The sauce is wonderful too without the mussels – that is what we enjoyed the day after!!
I love Chorizo and looks very good.
not for me, but I am sure others will love it.
Looks so yummy my kids would be licking the bowls.
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I never had mussels in a long time, love my mothers recipe–‘s my mother cooked it very well, and she’s 8,000 miles away from me. Going to try this 🙂 Thanks
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I hope this brings back some memories and joy! Please let me know! 🙂
Love the recipe! Sounds amazing!! BIG to do is always rinse the mussels or you will get sand and shell pieces in your food!
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You are right! And the bags can really vary! Enjoy!
I like Surf and Surf too! My preference is shrimp, but it would work with this sauce and linguine also.
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Shrimp would be fabulous – or just a combo of all seafood!
This looks fantastic! Mussels are not hard to cook once you get the hang of them!
I think most people are intimidated by seafood…but honestly, seafood is one of the quickest cooking and easiest things to cook – and healthy too!
looks good gotta try it
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looking good I never thought of this
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This sounds delicious!
wow.. this is all me. I’m so addicted to shellfish when I go out to eat I don’t even bother to look at other items on the menu. Here in AZ it’s difficult to get good seafood but I try my best. Thanks for the chance to win. I gotta have my seafood with pasta most of the time
I’m with you! I’m totally attracted to the seafood!
I have never tried Mussels, but the recipe sounds wonderful!! Think I will give it a go!!
That looks so good, my two favorite pasta, and seafood. Yum
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That looks so good
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I have been looking for a great (and romantic) meal to make my husband on Valentine’s Day and this is it! He would LOVE it and it looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to try it out!
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love idea
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wow yummy
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This looks wonderful!
Wow, this looks delicious! My husband would love me even more if he came home and this was on the table. I think I shall attempt it!
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Thank you! You’d earn brownie points for sure!
I love pasta but I have to say, mussels are not for me.
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Understood! It’s delish by itself too!
Anything Mussels~ I Love Mussels and this looks like another favorite I will add to my recipe file!
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that looks delic!!
I love just about all pasta but can not handle seafood. I just don’t like it. Your presentation is beautiful.
Looks delicious!
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Thank you!
I would love to try this dish!
Please do!! You’ll love it I promise!
I’ve never prepared mussels for a meal at home, this recipe is one I’m sure our family would enjoy, thanks for sharing. I’m so looking forward to trying this love all the tomatoes and garlic
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Sounds different and exotic, but surprisingly yummy!
You got my husband’s mouth watering. I’m allergic so I can’t try this recipe. But it does look inviting.
Love that! You can have it – just leave off the mussels! It is a great sauce alone too!
This just makes me flat-out hungry! YUM
This sauce sounds soooooo good. I think I can skip the mussels and have the sauce with a loaf of crunchy Italian bread!
I know my family would love that recipe. I am experimenting with new pasta recipes each week.
I’d love to know if you come across any new pasta recipes that your family loves!
This looks and sounds so good!!!! Thanks for sharing! #WackyWednesday
DEFINITELY WILL BE TRYING THIS RECIPE THIS WEEKEND. MUSSELS ARE MY FAVORITE….. #ontheblog #WackyWednesday
Awesome!! And let me know how you like it! 🙂
Looks great! My husband is allergic to shellfish, but my daughter and me would love to try it!
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Anything with chorizo is an instant winner in my books. Craving a bowlful of this pasta now!
This was absolutely delicious, I cooked this tonight for my husband,3.5 yr old and I and we could not stop eating it. I’m looking forward to having friends over and sharing it with them☺ Thank you
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So happy you made this and enjoyed it…I too am addicted to the flavor! Last time I made extra sauce and still have it in the freezer – can’t wait to have it again! Try my Tuscan Clam Sauce as well…another home run! 🙂
Hi,
This looks great but can’t you just steam the mussels in the tomato/wine sauce?
Sure you can! I like to do them separately as to not reduce the sauce too much…but either way can work!
I added diced red pepper for color, and it was delicious. I also served the sauce with fresh saffron pasta from Rafetto s. It was devoured.
Great idea! Love the sweetness too of the red pepper! I’m in the mood to make this again soon! Thanks for sharing.
Hard to trust a recipe that uses chorizo and doesn’t specify Mexican or Spanish, whether it is fully cooked or semicured. Helps to know the ingredients in a recipe.
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