Description

Tender mussels gently cooked in a rich, slow-simmered tomato cream sauce with vegetables, garlic, and a touch of spice. This comforting yet elegant dish is perfect served with crusty bread or over pasta for soaking up every bit of the flavorful sauce.

Ingredients

2–3 pounds fresh mussels, cleaned and debearded

1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained (or 1 can 28 oz plus 1 can 14 oz for extra sauce)

1/2 cup pomegranate juice

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

1 bulb fennel, trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced (or 1 whole celery stalk, optional substitute)

1 medium onion, sliced

1 cup carrots, sliced

3 ribs celery, sliced

2 tablespoons garlic, minced

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup heavy cream (or more to taste)

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Instructions

Add diced tomatoes, pomegranate juice, vegetable broth, tomato paste, onion, celery, carrots, fennel, garlic, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours or on HIGH for 1 hour, until vegetables are tender and flavors have developed.
Clean and scrub the mussels thoroughly. Remove the beards and discard any mussels that are cracked or remain open when tapped.
Add the cleaned mussels to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15–25 minutes, or until the mussels open.
Discard any mussels that do not open after cooking.
Stir in the heavy cream and serve immediately with crusty bread or over pasta.

Notes

Discard any mussels that remain closed after cooking.

For extra sauce, use both a 28 oz and 14 oz can of diced tomatoes.

Adjust cream quantity to reach desired richness.

Add fresh parsley, basil, or a squeeze of lemon juice before serving for brightness.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently to avoid overcooking.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 420
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 36g
Cholesterol: 85mg