Moules Marinières with Home-Cooked Oven Chips Recipe

Fancy a seafood recipe that will transport you back to a sunny holiday? This moules marinières recipe is so authentically French you’ll be reminded of your last European holiday.

With a creamy white wine sauce, this dish is perfect as a Valentine’s Day recipe and only takes about an hour to put together, so it’s a great option for a really special dinner.

HOW TO MAKE MOULES MARINIERES WITH HOME-COOKED OVEN CHIPS

Ingredients

• 1tbsp olive oil
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 600ml (1pt) dry white wine
• few flat-leaf parsley sprigs
• 2kg (41/2) fresh mussels, washed
• 3tbsp creme fraiche

for the chips

• 3 to 4 large Desiree potatoes
• 4tbsp sunflower oil

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 C, 160 C fan oven, 350 F, gas 4. Start by cutting potatoes into chips, but don't peel them. Put in a roasting tin (ideally non-stick), add the oil, some salt and toss. Cook on the top shelf for about 40 minutes until browned. Toss again halfway through.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the shallots and garlic for 10 minutes. Add the wine and parsley, bring to the boil, then lower the heat, add the mussels and put the lid on. Steam for about 5 minutes until all have opened (discard any that haven't opened). Tip into a colander over a bowl to catch the juice. Strain the liquid into a clean saucepan, bring to the boil and reduce by half. Lower the heat, stir in the creme fraiche and season. Put mussels into a large, heated bowl and pour over the sauce. Serve with the chips sprinkled with sea salt.