Top 38 Mussel Dishes
in the World

Moules marinière à la crème is a variation on the famous dish called moules marinière. This variation, popular in northern France, is made with mussels, garlic, crème fraîche, parsley, white wine, butter, shallots, and aromatic herbs such as thyme and bay leaves. The mussels are steamed in a covered pot on a combination of butter-sautéed garlic and shallots, with wine and a bit of water. Once the mussels open, the cream and chopped parsley are added to the pot, which is removed from the heat, and the dish is then served, ideally with crusty bread on the side for mopping up all the flavorful juices. Expand

Choritos a la chalaca is a Peruvian dish originating from the port of Callao. The word "choritos" refers to mussels, while "a la chalaca" means Callao-style. The dish is made by steaming the mussels, then topping them with a spicy salsa featuring tomatoes, corn, rocoto peppers, onions, lime juice, olive oil, and parsley. Choritos a la chalaca is traditionally served as an appetizer with a glass of cold beer on the side.Expand

Dagnje na buzaru is a traditional dish of the Croatian coast prepared with mussels as the main ingredient. The shells are scrubbed, placed into a pot with lukewarm water, covered, and lightly heated until all of them crack open. Olive oil, garlic, parsley, and a bit of pepper are sautéed, then mixed with the mussels and maybe a few slices of lemon. White wine is added for the final touch, and the dish is then shortly simmered. Before serving, dagnje na buzaru are often sprinkled with breadcrumbs for thickening, and the dish is then served with lots of bread on the side for mopping up the leftover juices. Dagnje na buzaru is a 'white' version of the dish, but there is also a 'red' version called dagnje na crvenu buzaru or dagnje na crveno, prepared mostly in the same way, but with the addition of tomato sauce and without breadcrumbs.Expand

Moules à la marinière is a classic French dish that consists of mussels cooked in cider or wine-based sauces. The dish is typically made with shallots, garlic, and herbs such as parsley, thyme, and bay leaves, which are sweated in some butter before being combined with white wine or cider. Fresh mussels are then added to the mixture and cooked until they open up. The dish is usually enhanced with freshly minced parsley, lemon juice and (optionally) mayonnaise or crème fraiche. Simple and flavorful, this mussel dish is typically enjoyed warm with slices of crusty bread and a glass of French wine on the side.Expand

Moules-frites is a traditional comfort food item consisting of mussels paired with Belgian fries on the side. The dish is commonly found in Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France. The condiment of choice accompanying the dish is mayonnaise, providing an additional note of richness. Mussels are a Belgian staple - cheap and abundant, they were originally considered a poor man's meal, and have been paired with fried potatoes for a long time at the country's famous friteries (fry shops). It is believed that the dish is originally from Belgium, because Belgians were the first to pair the mussels with fries, commonly eaten throughout the country in wintertime, when no fish was available. Today, the dish is found in most restaurants where it is often shared amongst groups of consumers.Expand

Mydia or dagnje na crvenu buzaru is a popular Greek and Croatian appetizer consisting of fresh mussels that are steamed in red wine along with fresh herbs, garlic, and a variety of garden vegetables. The dish is usually doused in a Mediterranean red sauce. It is served in most fish taverns (called psarotaverna) in Greece and in most coastal restaurants in Croatia, accompanied by lots of bread used for mopping up the flavorful sauce. In Croatia, the dish is also known as dagnje na crveno.Expand

Midye dolma is a popular Turkish street food item consisting of mussels that are filled with an aromatic blend of rice, herbs, nuts, and spices such as raisins, pine nuts, saffron, black pepper, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, parsley, and dill. To consume midye dolma, the top shell should be gently broken, followed by a generous squeeze of lemon juice over the stuffing. The stuffing is then typically consumed using the loose shell as a spoon.Expand

Midye tava is a delightfully good Turkish street food that is also served as an appetizer or a snack, consisting of fried mussels on a stick. Crispy and flavorful, the mussels are first battered, then deep-fried in a big metal cauldron. Hot oil is placed in the center of the cauldron, which has quite a wide rim in order for mussels stick to be arranged on it, as well as to drain all of the excess oil. The wide rim has another important function – it keeps the mussels warm, since the dish is usually sold by street vendors, especially in seaside neighborhoods scattered throughout Istanbul. When served, the mussels need only a dash of salt and a side of tangy tarator sauce for dipping.Expand

Tigres (lit. tigers) is an authentic dish from Bilbao, its name derived from the fiery flavor of these stuffed mussels. In Galicia, the dish is known as mejillones rellenos. The dish is typically served as a tapa, consisting of mussels stuffed with a combination of onions and flour cooked in wine. Tigres are then dipped in eggs, covered in breadcrumbs, and fried in hot oil. The mussels are often served with a spicy sauce based on anchovies and tomatoes. In Bilbao's tapa bars, one can often see people discarding the empty mussel shells on the floor, which seems to be standard practice and the most authentic way to consume these seafood delicacies.Expand

Mejillones en escabeche is a traditional method of preserving mussels in a combination of vinegar, olive oil, white wine, onions, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and paprika. These marinated mussels can be bought in small tin cans in most stores in the country, but they can be prepared at home from scratch as well. Mejillones en escabeche can be served either hot or cold, with toothpicks, and they’re often served as a tapa, accompanied by slices of rustic bread on the side for mopping up the sauce. Expand