Ingredients

  • For Wine Cream Sauce
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 3 pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • For Mussels
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 medium onions, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 large celery ribs, diced
  • 4 large parsley sprigs
  • 8 whole black peppercorns
  • 3 long lemon peel strips (yellow part only)
  • 1 large bay leaf, crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 3 dozen small mussels, scrubbed and bearded
  • lemon wedge

Method

  • For Sauce;.
  • Boil wine, vinegar and lemon juice in heavy large skillet until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 6 minutes.
  • Whisk in butter, one piece at a time; boil 1 minute.
  • Add cream, salt and pepper and whisk until sauce thickens and coats spoon, about 2 minutes.
  • For Mussels:.
  • Meanwhile prepare mussels. Combine first 9 ingredients in heavy large saucepan and bring to a boil; add mussels.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer just until mussels open, about 5 minutes; discard any that do not open.
  • Drain.
  • Arrange mussels open ends up in soup bowls.
  • Drizzle sauce over, garnish with lemon wedges and serve.