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Thai Red Curry Mussels

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Our Thai Red Curry Mussels recipe brings you a large bowl of the best flavors. Fresh mussels are bathed in a coconut curry sauce that you will want to eat as much as the mussels!

 

Main image for Thai Red Curry Mussels

 

Nothing is better than plump mussels cooked to perfection. This recipe cooks them in a rich Thai red curry coconut sauce, infused with garlic, onion, and spices. 

I might like this Thai curry mussels version even more than my steamed mussels in creamy sauce with leeks. Both are delicious!

In just a few simple steps, you can whip up a restaurant-worthy Thai mussels dish in your own kitchen.

Serve it as an appetizer, main course, or even as part of a Thai-inspired feast.

And it’s healthy too! Mussels are a great source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making this dish both healthy and satisfying.

If you need a dish that looks as good as it tastes, try these Thai Red Curry Mussels. It’s good news for everyone’s taste buds when these are served!

 

All ingredients laid out on counter ready to prepare

 

What Ingredients are in Thai Red Curry Mussels?

  • Fresh Mussels: The star of the show, providing a delicate seafood flavor and tender texture.
  • Yellow Onion: adds flavor to the base of the curry sauce
  • Garlic: Adding depth and aroma to the curry base.
  • Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the onion and garlic.
  • Clam Juice: Enhancing the seafood flavor of the dish.
  • Unsweetened Coconut Milk: Creating a creamy and luxurious sauce.
  • Thai Red Curry Paste: Infusing the dish with bold and spicy flavors.
  • Fish Sauce: Adding depth of flavor and umami richness to the red thai curry mussels sauce.
  • Cilantro: Adding a fresh and herbaceous note to the dish.
  • Lime: Providing a bright and citrusy finish to balance the richness of the curry.

Pro Tip: When making Thai coconut curry mussels, you want enough for everyone. To figure how many pounds of mussels to purchase, plan on half a pound per person as an appetizer and a full pound per person as a main course.

 

olive oil and garlic cooked in a skillet

 

How to Make Thai Red Curry Mussels:

  1. Clean the mussels thoroughly, discarding any that are open or damaged.
  2. Sauté onion and garlic in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until softened.
  3. Add clam juice, coconut milk, red curry paste, and fish sauce; whisk to combine.
  4. Add cleaned mussels to cooking liquid, cover pot, and steam over medium heat until they open.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and lime juice.
  6. Serve each bowl of mussels with lime wedges and crusty bread for dipping.

Pro Tip: Be careful not to overcook the mussels, as they can become tough and rubbery.

 

Clam juice, coconut milk, red curry paste and fish sauce added to skillet

 

How to prepare Mussels:

Before you can cook mussels in red curry sauce, you need to prepare them which means you need to start with clean mussels. Place the mussels in a sink under running water and scrub them with a brush to remove any dirt and barnacles. 

If the mussel has a “hairy beard,” pull that off by pulling towards the hinged end of the shell (not the front).

Pro Tip: Discard any mussels that have already opened. Opened means they are dead. From a food safety standpoint, you want to be cooking live mussels. Keep them on ice until you are ready to start cooking.

 

Red curry sauce mixed and ready for mussels

 

Can I Make Thai Red Curry Mussels Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can mostly make Thai red curry mussels ahead of time.

Prepare the curry sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Then reheat the sauce and cook the mussels just before serving.

 

mussels added to red curry sauce

 

How Long Does Thai Red Curry Mussels Last?

Thai Red Curry Mussels are best enjoyed immediately after cooking.

However, leftover mussel curry can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

 

Cilantro and juice added to clam mix in pot.

 

How to Store Thai Red Curry Mussels:

Store leftover Thai red curry mussels in their sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave before serving.

 

cooked clams in a red thai broth served in a bowl

 

Can You Freeze Thai Red Curry Mussels?

No, you should not freeze Thai Red Curry Mussels.

When mussels are frozen and thawed, the texture changes and becomes mushy when it is thawed.

 

side view of clams in broth ready to enjoy.

 

What Do Mussels Taste Like?

Mussels have a delicate and briny flavor, with a slightly sweet undertone.

They take on the flavors of the sauce they are cooked in, making them go well with many different flavors.

Curried mussels like these Thai red curry mussels will have a strong seafood curry flavor while other mussel recipes will have different base flavors.

 

zoomed in image of cooked clams in broth and ready to serve

 

What to Serve with Thai Red Curry Mussels:

 

zoomed in image of open clam

 

Is Thai Red Curry Mussels Gluten-Free?

Yes, this Thai red curry mussels recipe is naturally gluten-free.

It’s a great appetizer or meal to serve at a dinner party to those with gluten sensitivities or restrictions.

If you are looking for easy and impressive good food, this is one of those delicious recipes you want to keep ready to make.

Thai red curry mussels are loaded with flavors and look fancy, without a lot of work!

 

Pot full of of red curry mussels ready to serve

Thai Red Curry Mussels

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb mussels, cleaned
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup clam juice
  • 1 can unsweetened coconut milk (13.5 fl oz)
  • 2 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • juice from half a lime, reserve other half for wedges

Instructions

Clean the mussels in a sink under running water and scrub them with a brush to remove any dirt and barnacles. If the mussel has a "hairy beard," pull that off by pulling towards the hinged end of the shell (not the front).

Discard any mussels that have already opened. Keep them on ice until you are ready to start cooking.

Heat the olive oil, then stir in garlic and chopped onion and cook until softened.

Add the clam juice, coconut milk, red curry paste and fish sauce; whisk together.

Add the mussels, cover the pot and steam the mussels in the mixture for 6-10 min.

Remove the pot from heat; add cilantro and juice from half a lime. Cut the other half of lime into wedges and serve with mussels.

Make sure you have some crusty bread on hand for that delicious sauce!

Notes

As an appetizer, allow for 1/2 lb per person. As a main dish, allow for 1 lb per person. 

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 778Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 39gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 2219mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 41g
Originally Posted: December 4, 2018

Photos & Text Updated: March 5, 2024

These Thai Red Curry Mussels are steamed in an absolutely mouthwatering broth...you're going to want some crusty bread on hand to mop up that delicious sauce! Easy, inexpensive, and elegant...this is the perfect appetizer recipe for special occasions and works great as a main dish as well !#Thai | #Seafood | #Mussels | #Appetizer | #MainDish | #PartyRecipes | #EasyRecipe | #FathersDay | #NewYearsEve | #Christmas | #holidayappetizer

These Thai Red Curry Mussels are steamed in an absolutely mouthwatering broth...you're going to want some crusty bread on hand to mop up that delicious sauce! Easy, inexpensive, and elegant...this is the perfect recipe for special occasions and lovely as a main dish as well.! #Thai | Seafood | #Mussels | #PartyRecipes | #Appetizer | #MainDish | #FathersDay | #NewYearsEve | #Christmas | #romanticdinner | #holidayappetizer

Catalina

Thursday 14th of March 2024

Made the Thai Red Curry Mussels for a special dinner, and they were stunning! The curry was flavorful and creamy, and the mussels were cooked perfectly.

Allyson Zea

Thursday 14th of March 2024

What a great idea for dinner! This was so tasty!

Katerina Petrovska

Thursday 14th of March 2024

The Thai Red Curry Mussels were incredible! The curry was rich and flavorful, with just the right level of spice, and the mussels were perfectly cooked. Definitely a keeper!

Sandra

Thursday 14th of March 2024

I love how rich and creamy this dish was! The coconut and all the spices made it really really good! We loved it!

Beth

Wednesday 13th of March 2024

I love shellfish, especially mussels and the like. I was excited to try this one, and the flavors just blew me away.

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