Well I am back from the Wine and Food Festival at EPCOT in Walt Disney World. We ate, we drank, we walked and sweated! A great time was had by all! This recipe was actually posted on Disney’s blog before the festival because it was going to be a new dish from a new country at the festival. Belgium. But before I made it or wrote about it I at least wanted to taste it. It was delicious! I would have gotten it again but we were so full we were happy to have tasted it at least once. The recipe looks long and difficult but it’s pretty straight forward. They actually call for fresh mussels that you have to scrub and “de-beard”, which is fine, but I have lots of frozen cooked mussels in my freezer so I will just cook them according to the package. Which is really just heating them up. So either way you want to do this will be fine. I can’t wait to make them at home. Maybe this weekend! If you like garlic and mussels then you will love this recipe.

Mussels in Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce at Belgium in EPCOT

INGREDIENTS:

ROASTED GARLIC PUREE:

2 large heads garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

ROASTED GARLIC CREAM SAUCE:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 shallots, minced

½ cup white wine

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 cups heavy cream

2 tablespoons Roasted Garlic Puree

½ teaspoon coarse salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

MUSSELS:

4 pounds fresh mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup water

4 thick slices sourdough bread, toasted

2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

DIRECTIONS:

ROASTED GARLIC PUREE:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Remove excess papery skin from garlic, keeping head intact. Cut about ¼ off of garlic head, exposing the cloves.

2. Place each head of garlic cut side up on an individual square of aluminum foil. Drizzle each with oil. Wrap in foil, sealing edges.

3. Place pouch in oven and roast for 45 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes or until cool enough to handle.

4. Squeeze garlic from skins into small bowl. Discard skins. Mash garlic with a fork until smooth.

ROASTED GARLIC CREAM SAUCE:

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add wine and lemon juice, stirring to combine. Cook until reduced by half, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

2. Add cream, roasted garlic purée, salt and pepper, whisking to combine. Simmer (DO NOT BOIL) until sauce is slightly thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.

MUSSELS:

1. Place mussels, wine and water into a large stockpot over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook until mussels open, about 4 minutes. Remove and discard any mussels that do not open. Strain cooking liquid from mussels and discard liquid.

2. Place mussels in a large serving bowl or individual shallow bowls. Pour roasted garlic cream sauce over mussels and garnish with parsley, dill and chives. Serve immediately.

Serves 4