Mussels in Tomato Sauce

Method

• Step-by-Step Method for Mussels in Tomato Sauce
• Inspect and clean mussels: scrub shells under cold water, debeard if needed, discard cracked/open mussels
• Chop bacon into small pieces
• Chop onion finely
• Slice garlic thinly
• Heat a large pot over medium heat, add chopped bacon, cook until crisp
• Remove bacon with slotted spoon, set aside, leave rendered fat in pot
• Add chopped onion to pot, cook until soft and translucent
• Add sliced garlic, cook until fragrant (about 1 minute)
• Stir in red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper
• Pour in white wine and simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly
• Add marinara sauce to the pot, bring to a gentle simmer
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for spaghetti
• Once simmering, add cleaned mussels to the sauce, stir to coat
• Cover the pot and steam mussels until shells open (4–6 minutes)
• While mussels cook, add spaghetti to boiling water and cook until al dente
• Remove any mussels that don’t open and discard
• Drain spaghetti and divide among serving bowls
• Spoon mussels and tomato sauce over spaghetti
• Sprinkle reserved bacon and chopped fresh parsley over each bowl
• Serve with slices of crusty bread on the side for dipping
• Garnish with extra black pepper or red pepper flakes if desired