These meaty green shell mussels are bursting  with flavors, and are great as a main menue with a salad as side dish, along with a good glass of wine,or as an appetizer to entertain your guests.

What you need:

2.2 pounds of fresh or defrosted green shell mussles ( New Zealand )

1 tbs lime juice

 zest of one lime

salt & pepper

1 1/2 tbs fish sauce

1/2 red onion finely chopped

2 tbs sesame oil

Preheat your oven to 350 Fahrenheit or 180 Celsius. Clean your mussles by rinsing them with cold water. Make sure all the water is drained. Mix all ingredients (except for the salt and pepper) together in a bowl. Lay your mussles ( meat side up) out on a baking tray. Brush them with the marinade. Sprinkle them with some salt & pepper, and bake them for 5-7 min (depending on the heat in your oven). You want them to be tender and jucy!

mean while prepare your vinaigrette!

What you need:

1/2  juice of a large lime

2 tbs fish sauce

1 tbs fresh cilantro, finley chopped

1 small garlic clove, pressed

1/2 of a fresh red chilli pepper,  finely chopped

1/2 of a red bell pepper, finely chopped

1/2 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp fresh lemon thyme, finely chopped

 

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. When the mussles are done, take them out of the oven, and drizzle them immediately  with your prepared vinaigrette. Let the baked mussles sit for 1 min, so they soak up all the yummy flavors of the vinaigrette.You can serve them hot or cold.

Enjoy!