WARM MUSSEL AND MARINATED VEGETABLE SALAD

Warm Mussel and Marinated Vegetable Salad image

Provided by Maguy Le Coze

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

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1/2 cup zucchini in 1/4-inch dice
1/3 cup fennel in 1/4-inch dice
1/2 cup seeded ripe tomato in 1/4-inch dice
1 teaspoon chopped shallot
pinch cayenne
fine sea salt, to taste
freshly ground white pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 clove garlic, peeled and split in half
1 teaspoon drained capers
4 imported black olives, pitted and diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 pounds mussels, steamed open and picked from shells

Steps:

Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the zucchini for 1 minute. Drain and refresh under cold running water. Drain again and place in a bowl with the fennel, tomato, and shallot. Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper. Add the parsley, basil, garlic, capers, olives, and olive oils. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 6 hours.
Arrange the mussels in a radial pattern in 4 shallow, oven proof bowls. (The mussels maybe arranged and refrigerated several hours before serving.)
To serve, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the mussels in the oven just to warm them through, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, top the mussels with the vegetable mixture. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the oil from the mixture over each bowl. Serve immediately.