Mussels in Guinness

In Ireland, Guinness comes in all shapes and sizes, and can be enjoyed in a pint or in a dish specially prepared for the occasion… Mussels in Guinness are one of those typical Irish specialties, combining seafood and Irish beer… And Belgium no longer has a monopoly on mussels and French fries!

Guinness Mussels presentation

Fresh seafood in a Guinness sauce

Mussels in Guinness are a variation on the traditional oysters eaten with a pint of Guinness. Only this time, Guinness isn’t just in the glasses, but also in the dish itself, serving as a sauce…

The Irish are very fond of this kind of dish. Simple, hearty and delicious, they’re served just about everywhere, as well as in Ireland’s Pub Grubs. They’re usually served with French fries, and (as you can’t change a winning team), they’re eaten with a pint of Guinness, to enhance the flavor of the mussel sauce.

The dish is generally quite economical, and can be found in restaurants and pubs for under €10 to €14. So you can indulge in the fresh produce for which Ireland is generally renowned. (Irish mussels have an excellent reputation).

Recipe: Mussels in Guinness

Ingredients

Serves 4
Duration: 30mn

2 kgs fresh mussels
1 can Guinness (replace with another stout if you wish)
4 onions
3 cloves garlic
500 ml fresh cream
Butter, Salt, Pepper, Dill…

Preparation

Peel the onions and chop finely.
Peel the garlic cloves and cut into small cubes.
Place everything in a pressure cooker, and add the mussels and the whole can of Guinness.
Cover and cook over low heat for 7/8 minutes.
When the mussels have opened, pour the crème fraîche and a few knobs of butter into the casserole. Stir regularly until boiling, then turn off the heat.
Just season to taste (salt, pepper, dill…etc.) and serve hot, accompanied if you like by French fries.
Best enjoyed with a pint of Guinness on the side!
Bon Appétit!