Grilled Mussels With Chili and Garlic (In 5 Easy Steps)

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Serving a large bowl of mussels with a side of crusty bread is a real show-stopper. It’s one of my favorite seafood recipes alongside cold smoked salmon! 

But want to know the best thing? Mussels are cheap, easy to cook, and damn tasty! In this post. I’m going to clear up some of the most common questions about mussels. 

You’ll also learn my delicious recipe for grilled mussels, using nothing but your traditional grill! 

Hungry Now? Jump straight to my grilled mussels recipe.

What You Need for Grilled Mussels

 Fresh Mussels

Parsley

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Birdseye Chili

Garlic

How to Grill Mussels

Step 1: Pick Out Your Mussels

Choose only tightly closed, full shells in good condition. Remove any broken, chipped, damaged, or open shells before cooking.

Step 2: Preheat Your Grill, Soak and Clean The Mussels

Preheat your gas or coal barbecue to medium-high heat.

While your grill preheats, soak the mussels for 20 minutes in fresh water. The sand grit and salt will fall away as the mussels breathe and filter the freshwater. Some of the mussels may have byssal threads, or “beards,” that show up after being soaked. Pull the beards towards the hinge and pull out any hanging threads.

Step 3: Place Mussels on The Grill

Put the cleaned mussels on the hot grill and cover. Try not to open the cover for at least 5 minutes. At 5 minutes open to check how they are cooking. Remove any mussels with tongs that have opened.

Continue this process for the next 5 or so minutes or until all mussels have opened. After 10 minutes discard any mussels that have not opened.

Step 4: Serve with Crusty Bread

Garnish with fresh lemon wedges, parsley, cilantro, garlic, fresh-cut chili, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve with a side of grilled crusty fresh bread. Serve and enjoy

Are You Wondering How Many Mussels Per Person You Need?

If you’re planning 1 or 2 other appetizers before dinner, you need about 1/4 pound of mussels per person, that’s 4-6 medium mussels.

If you are only having mussels as the appetizer aim for around 12 mussels per guest with two thick slices of crusty bread. 

How to Choose and Clean Mussels

1. Choose only tightly closed, full shells; remove any broken, chipped, damaged, or open shells.
   
2. Soak for 20 minutes in fresh water. The sand and salt will fall away as the mussels breathe.
   
3. Some of the mussels may have byssal threads, or “beards,” that show up after being soaked. Pull the beards towards the hinge (not towards the opening) and pull out any hanging threads.

How Long Does it Take to Grill Mussels?

Cooking will take 5 to 10 minutes on a medium-high temperature grill.

I highly recommend closing the lid on your grill or finding a cover to cover the mussels. This will help steam the mussels and cook them faster. 

How to Set Your Grill to Medium-High

You should be able to hold your hand about an inch over the cooking rack for 2 to 3 seconds before pulling it away from the heat.

Or if you are using a gas or electric grill set the knobs to halfway. 

How Can You Tell When Mussels are Done?

Always wait until the mussel opens. This should take anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes. Discard the ones that do not open. 

Some people like their mussels just barely cooked, they’re still soft and tender.

Whereas others prefer grilled mussels until they’re almost smoked, with the flesh slightly tougher and almost crunchy on the edges. If you want to get my smoked mussels recipe you can get it here.

Different people enjoy different doneness and cooking times, however, you must cook them at least until their shells open. 

How to Make Grilled Mussels on the Grill

What is a Black Mussel?

A Black mussel is a common name for several mussels.

However, most commonly people are usually referring to Choromytilus meridionalis, a species of mussel only found along the southern African coast. Most common from central Namibia to Port Elizabeth.

What are The Hairs on the Mussels? 

If you use wild mussels, these may have hairy growths, commonly called ‘beards’ that need to be removed. 

The beards are harmless but have a strange taste and texture. To remove the beard simply hold the mussel and pull the beard towards the hinge of the mussel

Where is The Best Place to Buy Mussels?

You can buy mussels frozen, fresh, or marinated. I highly recommend fresh or marinated. 

Most fishmongers and good supermarkets will have fresh mussels. 

When buying mussels the fresher the better. 

Smoke On!

Charlie

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