What to Serve With Mussels – What Pairs Best

What Is Best Served With Mussels & Pairs Well

Mussels are in season autumn/winter and you will find them at their best quality then, as well their best value. There are several different cooking techniques you can use to prepare your dish.

Most people steam mussels as it ensures a better flavor enhancement with different ingredients you include in the pot. You can also bake, boil or grill them.

Ingredients That Pair Best With Mussels

• Mussels, clams, garlic, onion, thyme, and white wine.
• Mussels, cream, curry, and saffron.
• Mussels, garlic, saffron, and tomatoes.
• Mussels, olives, and oranges.
• Mussels, fennel, saffron, and white wine.
• Mussels, Dijon mustard, and saffron.
• Mussels, mustard, and tarragon.
• Mussels, saffron, tarragon, and tomatoes.

As you can imagine, you will find mussels on many popular restaurants menus such as; Mussel Soup with Cilantro and Serrano Chile Cream at Café Annie in Houston.

Other guides you may find useful:

What do mussels taste like?

Can you freeze mussels?

How do you reheat mussels?

The difference between green mussels and black mussels?

A-Z Ingredients That Pair With Mussels

Every ingredient below works well with mussels, so it is down to your own imagination and culinary skills to piece together what you think works for you. At the end of the day, it’s your pallet, and the flavors you enjoy most. As Marco Pierre-White says, it’s your choice!

A – G

• Bacon
• Basil
• Bass
• Bay leaf
• Beans; green, navy
• Bell peppers, especially red peppers raw or roasted
• Breadcrumbs
• Butter, unsalted (mussels naturally are salty)
• Capers
• Carrots
• Cayenne
• Celery
• Celery seeds
• Chanterelles
• Chervil
• Chile peppers
• Chinese cuisine
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Clams
• Clam juice
• Cod
• Cognac
• Cream
• Curry powder
• Egg yolks
• Fennel
• Fennel seeds
• French cuisine
• Garlic
• Ginger

H – N

• Ham
• Italian cuisine
• Leeks
• Lemon
• Lemon juice
• Lemon thyme
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Mayonnaise
• Mediterranean cuisine
• Mint
• Monkfish
• Mushrooms
• Mustard (Dijon)
• Nutmeg

N – T

• Olive oil
• Olives (black)
• Onions, especially red onions, spring onions/scallions, and white onions
• Orange (juice and zest)
• Oregano
• Oysters
• Paella
• Paprika (smoked or sweet)
• Parmesan cheese
• Parsley
• Pasta
• Pepper (black or white)
• Pernod
• Pesto
• Pine nuts
• Potatoes
• Radicchio
• Red pepper flakes
• Rice
• Risotto
• Rosemary
• Saffron
• Sea salt
• Shallots
• Scallions
• Shrimp
• Snapper
• Sole
• Squid
• Stews
• Stocks (chicken, clam or fish)
• Tarragon
• Thyme
• Tomatoes

T – Z

• Vermouth
• Vinaigrette
• Vinegar (red wine or sherry)
• Watercress
• Wild rice
• Wine (Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc etc)
• Zucchini