For a milder taste, use Parmesan instead of the stronger Romano cheese.
Serve this light summery salad with crispy, homemade Parmesan Breadsticks (see recipe below).
The key to this recipe is to end up with a sauce that is thicker than water and contains big flavors though not so much as to overpower the mussels. Thus, the reduced wine adds flavor not more liquid; similarly the heavy cream instead of half & half or milk. The final trick that prevents this from being too thick is adding the mussels and covering the pan. As they cook, the mussels release their juices and this keeps the sauce at the correct consistency and intensifies the flavours, once you perform the final stir. The combination of ocean air with smokiness and oak transcends the sublime. (Excellent with Caesar salad and more of the same wine used for cooking.)
The flavours of this simple appetizer or main course allow the characteristic of each ingredient to shine through.
Serve in warmed pasta bowls with grated Romano or Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over top.
If desired, garnish with shavings of Parmesan cheese or drizzle with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil.
Nutritional yeast, with its salty, cheesy taste, is an excellent substitute for Parmesan. Find it at health food stores or in the natural food section of the grocery store.
If you don't have any bucatini pasta, spaghetti makes a fine substitute. Serve topped with shaved Parmesan cheese.
Pantry ingredients plus fresh sweet peppers add up to a colourful must-have dish. Serve with Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over top.
Who would have thought that this classic would fit so deliciously into a hands-only menu? We recommend freshly grated Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano or grana Padano cheese.
