For those evenings when you're short of time but still want something fast, fresh and delicious, whip up what I call fairly fast food. You only need a cupboard stocked with a few quality ingredients to prepare something interesting and tasty.
1 large brown onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
3 sprigs oregano
2 sprigs thyme
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp tomato paste
2kg mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup light cream
Crusty bread, to serve
Heat oil in a very large, deep pan and cook onion and garlic over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Add white wine and bring to the boil. Simmer for 3 minutes.
Add tomatoes, oregano, thyme, chilli flakes, sugar and tomato paste. Stir well and bring to the boil.
Add mussels. Cover and cook over high heat for 2-3 minutes, shaking pan occasionally. Using a slotted spoon, remove mussels as soon as they open and place in a large serving dish. Discard any that do not open.
Remove pan from heat, add parsley and cream and stir well. Pour sauce over mussels and serve immediately with crusty bread.
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