Moules Frites - French/Belgian Bistro Style Mussels and Chips

Name: Moules Frites - French/Belgian Bistro Style Mussels and Chips
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 kg fresh mussels; 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped; 1 large shallot, peeled and finely chopped; 2 fat garlic cloves, peeled and crushed; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil; 50 ml olive oil; 150 ml dry white wine, such as Muscadet; 1 teaspoon Pernod (optional) or 1 teaspoon pastis (optional); 2 tablespoons creme fraiche (optional); 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into thin strips; 1/4 teaspoon salt; oil, for deep frying

Submitted by French Tart

"I adore Moules Frites - for me it is quintessential French and Belgian Bistro food at its best - plus I love tactile eating! You can treat yourself to Moules Frites anywhere in France and Belgium, and for most of the year. I often make the "Moules" part at home - Moules Marinière - but now and then, for a treat I also do the "Frites" bit as well......chips or French fries! Serve these with lots of paper towels or napkins, and a glass of chilled white wine would be the perfect accompaniment! I bought special Moules Frites dishes, as shown in the photos, but a couple of bowls would be fine - and don't forget a large bowl for the shells. If you really want to be 100% authentic, it is de rigueur to serve the frites with mayonnaise my dear.....sinfully good! Vive la France! Historical Note: Did you know that French Fries are really Belgian? Deep-fried chipped potatoes ("fries" in American English; "chips" in British English) are a very popular food item – and one which the Belgians claim to have invented. They are called frieten in Dutch and frites in French, whatever the name, they are my guilty pleasure!"

Download

photo by French Tart

Ready In:: 15mins
Ingredients:: 14
Serves:: 2

ingredients

MOULES
1 kg fresh mussels
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 large shallot, peeled and finely chopped
2 fat garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil
50 ml olive oil
150 ml dry white wine, such as Muscadet
1 teaspoon Pernod (optional) or 1 teaspoon pastis (optional)
2 tablespoons creme fraiche (optional)
FRITES or CHIPS
2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into thin strips
¹⁄₄ teaspoon salt
oil, for deep frying

directions

Frites/Chips:
Slice the potato into thin strips (2mm x 2mm) and rinse in salted water. Heat a deep fat fryer to 325°F/160°C (preferably using sunflower or groundnut oil). Place the frites/chips in and cook for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
Moules/Mussels:
Tip the mussels into a large bowl of cold water, rinse and then drain well and pull away any 'beards'. (Fresh mussels look black and shiny and should only smell pleasantly of the deep sea - the vast majority should be tightly closed. Avoid any that smell 'fishy', look dry or are mostly open.).
Place the chopped onion, shallot and garlic in a saucepan with the olive oil, gently sweat them over a low to medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until slightly soft.
Add the chopped herbs, and pernod or pastis if using and mix with the onion mixture.
Add the washed mussels to the pan and cover with dry white wine, bring slowly to the boil, then simmer gently whilst stirring. Continue until the mussels have opened - discard any that do not open, this can take between 2 to 5 minutes.
Add the creme fraiche if using, mixing through the cooked and opened mussles. Cover until the frites/chips are cooked.
Whilst the moules are cooking, turn up the deep fryer to 375°F/190°C and salt the frites/chips. Add the frites/chips back to the oil for around 1 minute until golden and crispy.
Serve the moules in a deep bowl with the frites/chips on the side - providinf plenty of napkins and a large bowl for the shells.
Note - to make the best frites/chips your uncooked frites/chips should be washed in cold water and dried thoroughly before cooking.

Questions & Replies

Where can I buy serving dishes like those shown in the photo

roselynch123
Where can I buy seeing dishes like those shown in the photo

roselynch123

Reviews

John and I enjoyed these so much! I didn`t want to fry so I made Recipe #142376 for the potatoes. But I do know the method here is very good for fries, gives them a nice puffiness. I did add some French tarragon to the other herbs. I also did use the optional Pastis and creme fraiche. Thanks Karen! Made for ZWT 6

Rita1652

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

French Tart

277

The sunflowers in the field behind my house in SW France: <img title=Sunflowers src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/DSCN8221.jpg alt=Sunflowers width=640 height=480 /> I am British (English-Scottish), but I was born in South Africa and have lived all over the world, including Hong Kong, Germany, Cyprus, USA & Singapore. I have also been very fortunate to have travelled extensively over the years.........I still have wanderlust! I used to be an English Literature & Art History teacher & lecturer; before that, I trained and worked as a Graphic Designer for many years. I now live in France with my husband & my daughter who has just started university in September 2006. We also have one very chatty Burmese cat Willow, who allows us to live with her here! (I used to have three cats, I recently lost Monty, a beautiful seal point Siamese and before that, Rama, who was a debonair blue point Siamese cat - I would love to have another Siamese cat or cats in the future!) This is my Burmese Cat, Willow, sunning herself on the log pile in the kitchen garden: <img title=My src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/ABaconButtyandSundryFoodPhotos34.jpg alt=My width=640 height=480 /> Here is my lovely Monty, a seal point Siamese, and Willow, sitting in the kitchen garden last year, and a few months before Monty died; he was 18yrs old: <img title=Monty src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/AbsolutelySinfulStickyToffeePudding.jpg alt=Monty width=640 height=480 />My This is my wonderful old boy, Rama, a blue-point Siamese, who died when he was 20yrs old - excuse the old and much sellotaped photo: <img title=Rama src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Rama1stOctober2004164.jpg alt=Rama width=517 height=639 /> My favourite pastimes are: reading, writing, painting & drawing, photography, gardening, anything creative, walking, travelling, dining out and of course COOKING! I love all types of cuisine, but especially Traditional British - and NO it is NOT all bad!! I particularly love food associated with the changing seasons plus traditional feasts & festivals, as well as Slow Cooking. I also enjoy French & North African cuisine, come to think of it, there isn't much I don't like! My husband & I run a Chambres D'Hotes, (Bed and Breakfast) called Auberge de la Fontaine here in beautiful South West France; we specialise in Gourmet Food & Wine Breaks, French Antiques & Restoration courses, French Language courses and French Cookery classes. Our home is completely furnished with Antique French furniture that we have rescued & restored ourselves. Our charming village has one of the oldest Churches in the region & it is famous for its connection with the St.Jacques de Compostella Pilgrimage route, as well as being within the Cognac & Bordeaux wine growing area. We have a wonderful garden where we grow ALL of our own herbs and most of our fruit and vegetables. I specialise in rare, unusual and old-fashioned herbs, which I grow in our walled garden. As well as growing herbs, I also grow many different varieties of lavender, old-fashioned shrub roses and heirloom fruit and vegetables. We have lived overseas for many, many years now - but we both still love going home to Northern England, near Scarborough & York, to visit our family & friends. We also love indulging in dining out when we are there, in a wide variety of EXCELLENT Gastro-Pubs that we have in North Yorkshire; and popping in to have a Pint of REAL ENGLISH ALE in our local pub is a always a must!! <a href=http://photobucket.com/images/merci%20beaucoup target=_blank><img src=http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/vi-vie15/Merci/hb09izl7.gif border=0 alt=merci /></a> A Message to all who make and review my recipes! I try very hard to reply to EACH and EVERYONE of you who kindly makes, reviews and photographs my recipes! However, sometimes I am so busy in the B and B, and with other things, that I may be late in sending a personal thank you message, and sometimes I forget completely! I would just like to thank you ALL in advance, and just in case I am late or forgetful in sending a personal thanks. I am always very humbled by anyone who chooses to make one of my recipes, and I love reading the reviews and seeing the beautiful photos that are posted. Merci beaucoup encore! A note about my recipes. All of my posted recipes, whether they be my own concoctions or adaptations from a book or a famous chef, have been tried and tested at least once, by ME! I try to make sure that I am the guinea pig and not you! However, if there is anything you would like ask me about one of my recipes, or a query that I may be able to help you with, please do write and I will try to answer your question as soon as possible. I post my recipes in Imperial (lbs and ozs) and Metric (kilos and grams) as I am British! <a id=clustrMapsLink href=http://www2.clustrmaps.com/counter/maps.php?url=http://www.recipezaar.com/member/242729><img id=clustrMapsImg title=Locations src=http://www2.clustrmaps.com/counter/index2.php?url=http://www.recipezaar.com/member/242729 alt=Locations /> </a> <object width=550 height=293 data=http://static.travbuddy.com/flash/countries_map.swf?id=4263273 type=application/x-shockwave-flash> <param name=data value=http://static.travbuddy.com/flash/countries_map.swf?id=4263273 /> <param name=bgcolor value=#372060 /> <param name=src value=http://static.travbuddy.com/flash/countries_map.swf?id=4263273 /> <param name=quality value=high /> </object> <a href=http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-widgets><img src=http://static.travbuddy.com/images/widget_map_promote_v2.gif border=0 alt=/ /></a> <a href=http://www.travbuddy.com/register.php><img src=http://static.travbuddy.com/images/widget_map_promote_meet.gif border=0 alt=/ /></a> A Swish Slideshow!! <object width=480 height=360 data=http://w146.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Food type=application/x-shockwave-flash> <param name=data value=http://w146.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Food /> <param name=src value=http://w146.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Food /> <param name=wmode value=transparent /> </object> <a href=http://photobucket.com/slideshows target=_blank><img src=http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif alt=/ /></a><a href=http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Food%202009/?action=view?t=f58f3c11.pbw target=_blank><img src=http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif alt=/ /></a> Awards: <img src=http://www.satsleuth.com/cooking/MelbourneCup1st.JPG border=0 alt=/ /> <img src=http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c99/ruemke/ft.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c99/ruemke/food/a.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Zaar%20Food%20Photos/SassyBanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photo /> I have participated in: <img src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Herb1BaySTKR.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m445/mliss29/vegn%20swap/vegnswap.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/Permanent%20Banners/apple-a-day-oct-09.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z205/jubespage/ZaarBanners/170ae11e.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/Animation6.gif alt=/ /> <img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z205/jubespage/ZaarBanners/recipetag2-1.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/herbssticker1.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/ThymeSticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/484938/Hot.spicy.tastySTKR.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/samethingsticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t229/axerage/aboutmetagcopy.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/saladsticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z205/jubespage/2008AussieNZChristmasCardExchange.gif alt=/ /> <img src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3314808827_fd1070a8f8_m.jpg alt=/ /> <a href=http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Birthday%20and%20Celebration%20Images/?action=view?t=ParsleyBanner.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Birthday%20and%20Celebration%20Images/ParsleyBanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /></a> <img src=http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Birthday%20and%20Celebration%20Images/FrenchCheeseoftheWeekClub.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/CookathonforKarensticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/Permanent%20Banners/i-connected-125.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/totmtaggame-1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z205/jubespage/AussieRecipeSwap.gif alt=/ /> <img src=http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/Cooking-Kangaroo-1-1.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/FISHSEAFDSTICKER.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/CROCKPOTSTKR.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/holidaybadge.gif border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/annacia/pt-shutterbug-banner-1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b367/chefpaulag/banners/cookathonLorac-1.jpg?t=1217936137 alt=/ /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/homepage/ZWT4-ChallengeHostAboutMe.gif alt=/ /> <img src=http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/484938/MayFlowerssticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Flourpowersticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://www.satsleuth.com/cooking/Swap14.JPG alt=/ /> <img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/PastastickerJPEG.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Kaffee-sticker.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/derf16/food%20photography%20series/MuffinLovesticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/derf16/food%20photography%20series/Comfortstickercopysmall.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Other/photo-swap-7sticky.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q23/vseward/Bevy/officialmemberofthebevtaggame.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/personal/FRENCH-foodfun.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/holidaylightssticker.jpg alt=/ /> <img src=http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/484938/Spelling-Bee-stick2jpg.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/BtoBHosts.jpg border=0 alt=Photo /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1535/CLC1.gif alt=/ /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/TasteofYellow.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/FFF/Switzerland-FFF4.gif alt=/ /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/untitled.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/200_PACpic.jpg border=0 alt=Photo /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/pacbanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photo /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%203/ZWT-ChallengeHostBanner.gif alt=/ /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%203/ZWT3-Participation.gif alt=/ /> <img src=http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/Dreamgoddess555/Narrow1-1.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://www.satsleuth.com/cooking/RecipeSwap2.JPG alt=width=50% /> <img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1535/samethingsticker.jpg alt=/ /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Adopted1smp.jpg border=0 alt=Photo /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/smPACp.jpg border=0 alt=PAC /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1535/cheesesticker.jpg alt=/ /><a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=148021 target=_blank> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/RSC%20Banners/RSC10-FrenchTart.jpg alt=/ /></a><a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=119602 target=_blank> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/RSC%20Banners/RSC9-FrenchTart.jpg alt=/ /></a>

View Full Profile