MUSSELS IN SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Mussels in Spicy Tomato Sauce image

Yield makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/4 cup cornmeal
2 pounds large mussels, preferably cultivated
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing the dish if you like
8 cloves garlic, sliced
One 1-pint basket ripe cherry tomatoes, cut in half, or 2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably the Sicilian or Greek type dried on the branch, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper
1 cup dry white wine
10 large fresh basil leaves, shredded
Salt to taste

Steps:

To purge mussels of their grit, stir the cornmeal into 3 quarts of water, add the mussels, and let them soak, shaking them up once or twice, for 1 hour. Drain completely, scrub the shells well, and, if necessary, remove the wiry "beard" protruding from the shell by tugging firmly with your fingers.
Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook, shaking the pan, until golden, about 3 minutes. Slide the tomatoes into the skillet and stir in the oregano and red pepper. Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down, about 5 minutes. Stir the mussels into the skillet, then pour in the wine. Bring to a boil, cover the pot, and cook just until the mussels are opened, about 3 minutes for cultivated mussels, slightly longer for thicker-shelled noncultivated mussels. Stir in the basil and, if you like, a generous drizzle of olive oil. Check the seasoning and add a little salt if necessary.
Discard any mussels with unopened shells. Divide the mussels among warmed serving bowls, topping each serving with a zoccolo, if you like.