Tahong (Mussels Philippine style)

by dpinpin

Prep time: 0:10 Overall time: 0:15

Servings:

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs fresh de-bearded Green Mussels
4 to 7 cloves of crushed garlic
1 medium onion, minced
4-5 tbs cooking oil
1 thumb sized piece of ginger, diced or slivered.
dash MSG (optional)
1 tbsp rock salt or have a bottle of asian fish sauce a hand.
the plucked leaves taken from 1 hand's worth (bunch?) of stems from the hot chili plant or
about a cupful of spinach leaves, soaked, rinsed.
water according to your taste.

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the cooking oil in a wok until you can hear it on the wok, but don't wait until it smokes (if it does it's too hot). Saute the garlic, onions, and ginger until red-brown toasted. The aroma should be so heady it'll fill the entire kitchen. Throw in the salt, or better yet the fish sauce. Follow quickly with 1 cup of water (you sorta douse the whole sizzling thing).

Bring the broth to a rolling boil then pour in the mussels and cover. Wait about 8 minutes then add the leaves.

Properly cooked mussels remain about the same size as the shell they came in. Overcooked is when they're severely shrunken. You'll know if they're undercooked.

The sweet/saltiness of the broth will vary according to how much water you put in. Some like it with less water. Others like to sip the broth along with the meal so they add more water.

Serve with steaming hot rice.

CHEF COMMENTS

Still another common Philippine dish. Like ambrosia when prepared with fresh mussels!

Tagged: filipino, seafood add tags

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