Mussels Marinara is a quick & easy recipe to make at home. Serve them with crostini as an appetizer, or over pasta as an entree. Spice them up with red pepper flakes to make Mussels Fra Diavolo.
I’m back with another quick & easy seafood recipe for you! This Mussels Marinara recipe will be on your table in under 30 minutes. It’s light, delicious and oh so flavorful – with white wine, plenty of garlic and fresh parsley. And if you like heat, just add some red pepper flakes to make Mussels Fra Diavolo, similar to this Shrimp Fra Diavolo.
Mussels marinara ingredients:
- Mussels
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- White Wine
- Marinara Sauce
- Parsley
- Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
How to Make Mussels Marinara:
- Heat olive oil on MEDIUM so that your garlic wont scorch. Sauté until golden.
- Add wine and reduce by half.
- Add marinara sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Add mussels to the skillet and cook until mussels open, 3-5 minutes.
How to make Mussels Fra Diavolo:
- Add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes when you are sautéing the garlic.
What does fra diavolo mean?
- “Fra Diavolo” means “Brother Devil” in Italian. Mussels Fra Diavolo is given the name for its spicy flavors.
How to store & clean mussels:
- Once purchased, mussels should be used within a couple days. Store them in the refrigerator, in a bowl covered with a damp towel.
- To clean, rinse them in a colander using a scrub brush. If you find mussels with open shells, tap them gently to ensure that it closes up and is alive. If not, discard.
- The “beard” of a mussel is a bundle of hair-like fibers that comes from the shell. Most farm-raised mussels will come debearded. However, if you find mussels that need to be debearded, simply grab the beard from the mussels and give it a tug to remove it.
How to eat mussels marinara:
- With crusty bread to soak up that delicious sauce.
- Over pasta as a main course.
- This Mussels in Red Sauce recipe will serve 6 as an appetizer or 4 as a main course over pasta.
What to serve with it:
- Celery & Fennel Salad
- Arugula Salad
- Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Mustard & Parmesan
- Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons
- Vegan Caesar Salad
More seafood recipes:
- Sriracha Glazed Salmon with Zucchini Noodles
- Shrimp Fra Diavolo
- Homemade Seafood Stock
- Seafood Paella with Saffron Aioli
- Sheet Pan Miso Salmon and Vegetables
- Squid Ink Pasta with Shrimp & Cherry Tomatoes
What wine to drink with mussels marinara?
- White Wine – Pinot Grigio or dry sparkling wine such as Prosecco are awesome with this dish.
- Red Wine – Dolcetto or Barbera. Look for fruity reds that are lower in alcohol.
If you loved this homemade Mussels Marinara recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would give it a review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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Mussels Marinara Recipe
Serve them with crusty bread as an appetizer, or over pasta as an entree. Spice
them up with red pepper flakes to make Mussels Fra Diavolo.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if you’d like spicy Fra Diavolo mussels)
- 1 cup dry white wine (I used Pinot Gris, but Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay would work)
- 1 23.5 ounce jars marinara sauce
- 2 pounds mussels (scrubbed and debearded)
- Salt (to taste)
- Chopped parsley (for serving)
- Crusty bread (for serving)
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté garlic (and red pepper flakes if using) for 1-2 minutes, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Add wine and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Stir in mussels, cover and cook until mussels open, 3 to 5 minutes; discard any mussels that do not open.
- Season with salt, to taste, and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with crusty bread.
So super tasty and easy too!