RED CURRY MUSSELS AND ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

Red Curry Mussels and Roasted Sweet Potatoes image

Provided by David Tanis

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

6 medium sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
3 tablespoons melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne, or less to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, diced
4 bird's-eye chiles, split to the stem, seeds left in
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, finely chopped (3 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons finely chopped lemongrass
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon fish sauce
3 or 4 makrut lime leaves
3 cups thick coconut milk (about 1 1/2 cans, well shaken before opening)
3 pounds mussels, cleaned
1 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, for garnish
1 Fresno chile, sliced, for garnish
1 cup Thai basil leaves, or another kind of basil, for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

Prepare the sweet potatoes: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Peel the sweet potatoes, and cut them lengthwise into slender wedges. Put them in a large bowl, and toss them with coconut oil to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and spread out in a single layer. Bake, uncovered for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 400 degrees. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until tender with a crisp exterior. Before serving, sprinkle with cumin and cayenne.
While sweet potatoes are baking, make the curry: Put vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with a lid over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until lightly browned and softened, about 8 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add chiles, garlic, ginger and lemongrass and let sizzle for about 1 minute. Then add red curry paste and tomato paste and fry with the onion mixture for 2 minutes more.
Add fish sauce, lime leaves and coconut milk. Bring mixture to a boil, then add mussels and stir to coat with sauce. Cover and cook mussels, stirring once or twice, until all the mussels have steamed open, 8 to 10 minutes.
Ladle mussels and lots of sauce into deep, wide bowls. Sprinkle with cilantro and Fresno chile slices and top with basil leaves. Serve with a platter of hot sweet potatoes and lime wedges.