Mussels with White Wine & Mushrooms

• 2kg Mussels
• Flour or Oatmeal
• 4 Shallots
• 2 Sticks Celery
• 225g Button Mushrooms
• Chives
• 50g Butter
• 1 1/2 wineglasses of White Wine
• 75-100g Fresh white Breadcrumbs
• Chopped Parsley
• Nutmeg
• Salt & Pepper

1. Soak the mussels in cold water with a handful of flour or oatmeal for 1 - 2 hours.
2. Scrape them well and wash in at least 3 changes of cold water
3. Chop the shallots finely. Wash the celery, wipe the mushrooms and chop both finely. Chop the chives.
4. Fry the shallots in the butter in a large pan until they are soft.
5. Add the celery, mushrooms and chives, reserving some.
6. Add the wine, mussels and season well.
7. Cover and cook over a high heat for 4 -5 mins, shaking the pan from time to time. The mussels are cooked when the shells are open. Do not over cook
8. Remove the mussels from the pan and reduce the liquor by half by boiling briskly
9. Add enough fresh breadcrumbs to bind the sauce.
10. Stir in a large spoonful of chopped parsley and chives.
11. To serve, place a little sauce in the bottom of the dish then add the mussels.
12. Cover with the rest of the sauce and brown for 5 mins at 210C Gas 7, if liked

Tips

Only serve mussels which have opened their shells. Discard the rest.