Sardinian Mussel Soup with Fregula

User Reviews

4.0

18 reviews
Good
  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Cook Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    55 mins

  • Servings

    6 people

  • Calories

    371 kcal

  • Course

    Soup

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Sardinian Mussel Soup with Fregula

Making this soup is pretty straightforward, and the base stores well for a couple days in the fridge. If you do want to eat this soup over the course of a couple days, however, toss in only as much pasta and shellfish as you plan to eat in one sitting. This prevents the seafood from overcooking and the pasta from soaking up too much broth.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 pounds mussels in their shells
  • 2 pounds small clams in their shells
  • 1 quart chicken stock, or freshly made shellfish or fish stock
  • 1 cups seawater or salty tap water
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped roasted red pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 1 cup sea beans (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • A healthy pinch of saffron, or 1 packet of saffron powder
  • 1/2 pound fregula pasta, or other small soup pasta
  • grated zest of a lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
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Instructions

  1. If you are using wild mussels, scrub their shells and pull off their beards. You should not have to do this with farmed mussels. (Here's a video on the process from my friend Becky.) Scrub the shells of the clams, too.
  2. Pour the seawater or salty tap water into a large, wide pot with a cover and bring it to a boil. Add the mussels and steam them open, removing each one just as it opens. This should take 3 to 5 minutes. Do the same with the clams. Pick out most of the meats from the shellfish; put them into a bowl with some olive oil. Leave a few mussels in the shell if you want — it makes the soup look more interesting.
  3. Strain the shellfish broth though cheesecloth or a paper towel into a bowl and set aside. Crumble the saffron into it while it is still hot.
  4. In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and saute the garlic for a minute or so. Add the cayenne, parsley, stock and shellfish broth and mix to combine. Bring it to a boil and add the fregula pasta. Simmer this until the pasta is nearly done, about 10 minutes.
  5. Add the roasted red pepper, shellfish, sea beans (if using) and cook for another 3 minutes. Right before you serve, add the lemon zest and chives. Serve with crusty bread and a crisp white wine.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 371kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 39g (13%) Protein 22g (44%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 33mg (11%) Sodium 748mg (31%) Potassium 562mg (16%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 786IU (16%) Vitamin C 20mg (22%) Calcium 58mg (6%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 371 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 371kcal 19%
Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Protein 22g 44%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 748mg 31%
Potassium 562mg 12%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 786IU 16%
Vitamin C 20mg 22%
Calcium 58mg 6%
Iron 5mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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