Cooling Off With Spicy Mussels

Thai-inspired steamed mussels are the perfect finger food for an outdoor meal

These Thai-style mussels are steamed in a heady concoction of coconut milk whisked with green curry paste and aromatics. Lynda Balslev for Tastefood

Looking for a simple and inexpensive summer dinner? Mussels are healthy, easy to prepare, and ideal for outdoor dining. They cook in minutes, which is convenient when the weather is hot and you prefer to keep your kitchen time to a minimum.

The simplest method for cooking mussels is to steam them in a broth. Use a flavorful liquid, such as white wine—or, in the case of this recipe, coconut milk—to infuse the mussels with flavor while they steam. As the mollusks cook, their shells will open, releasing their sweet and briny juices into the liquid and creating a flavorful soup.

Fragrant coconut milk makes a flavorful steaming liquid. Keith Homan/Shutterstock

This Thai-inspired recipe relies on a heady concoction of coconut milk whisked with a slurry of green curry paste and aromatics for the steaming liquid. The resulting dish is a fiery, roll-up-your-sleeves dinner—perfect for an outdoor meal where you can make a glorious finger-licking mess, with dribbles, splashes, and wayward shells contributing to the table decor. And the spice in the curry-infused cooking broth is guaranteed to make you sweat—which happens to be a tried-and-true method of cooling off in the summer heat. The only other requirements are spoons for slurping up the sauce, a big bowl for the spent shells, and a whole lotta napkins.

These Thai-style mussels are steamed in a heady concoction of coconut milk whisked with green curry paste and aromatics. Lynda Balslev for Tastefood

Thai-style Steamed Mussels

Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes

Serves 4

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 small shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 1 heaping tablespoon Thai green curry paste
• 1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk (not light)
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• 2 pounds (about 24) mussels, scrubbed and debearded
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish
• 1 small red or green chile pepper, such as Fresno or jalapeño, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• Lime wedges for serving
• Cooked jasmine rice for serving, if desired

Heat the oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté until soft, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir in the curry paste. Pour in the coconut milk, brown sugar, and fish sauce, whisking to blend. Bring to a simmer, then add the mussels and stir to coat. Cover the pot. Cook until the mussels open, 5 to 6 minutes, shaking the pan frequently, opening the lid only to check for doneness.

Remove the pan from the heat. Discard any unopened mussels. Stir in the cilantro, chiles, and lime juice. Taste for seasoning and add more lime juice if desired.

Ladle the mussels and broth into serving bowls. Garnish with additional cilantro and lime wedges. Serve with cooked rice if desired.