Rania's Recipes: Mussels & Figs With Vanilla Ice Cream
This week, Rania Harris is visiting the Pittsburgh Today Live kitchen. She's using just five ingredients and turning them into a gourmet meal!
Part 1:
Part 2:
Mussels a la Rania
Ingredients:
4 pounds fresh mussels
¼ cup olive oil
2 – 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 large shallots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 bottles clam juice
½ cup white wine
¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
One loaf Italian semolina bread, sliced 1-inch thick on the bias, grilled
Directions:
Add the mussels to a large bowl with cold water. Taking one at a time, scrub them well all over with a clean scrubbing brush, strip away any beard and place them in a colander. Repeat the process with each one and make sure they are all sealed tightly. Should any mussel be open, tap it on surface twice; if it doesn't close, discard it. Rinse all mussels well one more time when you have them all prepped and set them aside.
In a large pot, add the oil and the butter along with the shallots. Turn the heat to medium and sauté until they become fragrant and the shallots become translucent, about 4 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until the garlic softens. Add in the clam juice and wine and allow the mixture to reduce slightly, about 2 – 3 minutes
Add the cleaned mussels and stir them around with the shallot mixture. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Cook until all of the mussels have opened, 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove from the heat, then add the parsley and stir to incorporate. Plate the mussels in a large serving bowl surrounded by the grilled bread.
Serves: 4
Figs with Vanilla Ice Cream and Aged Balsamic Vinegar
Ingredients:
12 firm-ripe fresh figs, trimmed and halved lengthwise
3 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Vanilla bean ice cream
Balsamic vinegar syrup (see below)
Directions:
Preheat broiler.
Arrange figs, cut sides up, in a large shallow baking pan. Sprinkle sugar evenly over fruit and broil 2 to 3 inches from heat until most of sugar is melted and deep golden in places, 3 to 5 minutes.
Immediately serve figs over ice cream, drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
Serves: 4
To make balsamic syrup:
Pour about 1 cup of good quality balsamic vinegar in a small pot and bring to a boil. Be careful that it doesn't boil over. Lower the heat to a simmer and allow the mixture to reduce until it comes to a syrup – when it cools, it should resemble the same consistency of honey. Be very careful, as once it starts to reduce to the honey like consistency, it can burn easily. I know this very well as it's happened to me!
