From the bold coast of Maine comes this unique and bold Seaweed Mayonnaise & Smoked Mussels recipe that is bursting with sweet, smokey, and umami flavors. Maine mussels are one of our favorite types of seafood, and shellfish are a delectable way to get protein straight from the sea. Just 3 oz of mussels contain 20 grams of protein, which is 40% of the daily protein needed for the average human. Plus, this type of protein is easy for the body to digest, so you get all of the benefits. Mussels are also rich in Iron, Omega-3’s, vitamin B12, vitamin C & A.
Our regeneratively farmed saltwater mussels are grown alongside our sea kelp on our ocean farm using a rope culture system. This involves suspending the mussels from ropes that are hung in the water, allowing them to feed on the plankton and other nutrients in the water. Mussels are a type of bivalve mollusk, making them natural filter feeders and excellent for the marine ecosystem in which they inhabit. They help to keep the water clean and healthy, but when grown naturally in the mud, they can become gritty to eat. Because our mussels are grown on ropes instead of the sea floor, they are much cleaner.
Like our range of sustainably farmed and edible sea vegetables that we offer here at Nautical Farms, as our mussels grow, they too absorb carbon dioxide from the water. They then convert it into calcium carbonate, which is used to build their shells and protect them from predators. This process helps to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and can also contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.
On our sea farm, we grow tiger striped mussels. These mussels have beautiful shells that look zebra-like. When harvested, cleaned, and cooked with a little butter, they have a delicious sweet meat.
It’s always a treat when we can bring home mussels that are ready to be harvested and to make them last longer, we decided this harvest to smoke them and incorporate them into several dishes including this Seaweed Mayonnaise & Smoked Mussels recipe. This recipe also uses our newest product, Organic Kelp Powder. However, if you have our Organic Whole Leaf Sugar Kelp, or our Organic Sugar Kelp Flakes instead, simply grind 1 tablespoon of either down to a powder.
We hope you enjoy it.
Prep Time: 2 hours total
You’ll Need:
Mussels, as many as you’d like to cook
3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon of butter
½ cup of Sauvignon Black or a dry white wine
1 tsp of Nautical Farms Organic Kelp Powder
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
For 1 cup of mayonnaise
1 large egg yolk
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
The first step will be to make sure all the mussels are clean. You can debeard them beforehand or after they have been steamed.
Next, in a medium pot, add butter and garlic and lightly saute. Then, add the wine and bring to a boil. Add some mussels in a single layer at the bottom, and cover and steam until the shells open up. This should take between 1-3 minutes. You may need to add wine as you continue this process depending on how many mussels you steam.
Remove the opened mussels, and place them in a bowl or on a baking sheet and repeat this process until you've steamed them all and all the mussels are open.
Strain the liquid you cooked your mussels in through a fine sieve and set aside.
Next, remove all the mussels from their shells using a small knife or your hands. Be careful not to tear them. Once the mussels have been shelled, place them back into the strained mussel liquid, and refrigerate till your smoker is up to temperature. We brought ours to 150 degrees.
Once your smoker is ready, place the mussels onto a smoking rack and smoke gently for 2 hours.
After smoking, pour the oil and some cooking liquid over the mussels and let them cool down. Place on a plate or in a bowl and set aside.
While your mussels are smoking or whenever you are ready to serve this dish, begin prepping the seaweed mayonnaise.
Begin this process by placing the egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, salt and black pepper in a bowl and whisk well.
Then, slowly begin to add olive oil a few drops at a time until all is added while you continue to whisk the mixture vigorously. This will ensure a stable emulsion.
To serve, use a small flat plate and arrange a very generous dollop of mustard at the bottom, spreading it out. Place your mussels on top in a pile and garnish with onion or chives. Then, sprinkle the Organic Kelp Powder on top. Serve with fresh bread, crackers, or eat as is.