Spaghetti with Mussels and Toasted Breadcrumbs ___

Spaghetti with Mussels and Toasted Breadcrumbs

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

  • 0.5 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 pounds mussels, scraped and beards removed
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • red pepper flakes, as desired
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
  • 1 pound dry spaghetti pasta

Directions

Toast the bread crumbs by putting 2 tablespoons of  extra virgin olive oil in a saute` pan and adding the bread crumbs.

Continuously stir the bread crumbs with a wooden spoon until bread crumbs turn golden-light brown. Put aside for later.

Put a 12 inch sauté pan with a lid over a medium flame and add the mussels.

Cover the pan and let the mussels open, about 7-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Once all the mussels have opened remove the pan from heat and shell all the mussels, making sure to reserve their juice. Set aside.

Filter the water at the bottom of the pan and set aside.

In a large saute pan, add 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and the sliced garlic.  Add red pepper flakes as desired. Set the flame to medium.

Once the garlic tuns light golden, add the juice from the mussels. Once it comes to a boil, let it cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add the mussels and the parsley and let everything cook for about 5 minutes.

Cook the spaghetti  in salted water and once they are to an Al Dente consistency, add them to the pan.

Toss for 1 minutes and serve each plate garnished with the toasted breadcrumbs.