Easy Baked Mussels with a Creamy Pesto Topping

An appetizer is like the protagonist’s best friend in a teleserye. It’s there to hype up the main star. But sometimes, appetizers can steal the show and become the one dish that gets emptied the fastest. Such will be the case when you serve these baked mussels with pesto sauce. The melted cheese on top makes this dish a showstopper!

Want to give it a new screen name? A fancy-sounding option is mussels au gratin, perfect if you're preparing this for a romantic date. Or you can stick with baked tahong and keep your guests guessing your new secret ingredient. Whatever you choose, don't be surprised to receive a round of applause after the meal.

Tips

To check for freshness, tap any open shell; if it doesn’t close, the mussel is dead and not safe to cook.

20 min.
5 People
Easy
Budget

Ingredients

1 kg mussels, cleaned
50 ml water
3 tbsp store-bought pesto sauce
1 cup Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated soft or quick-melting cheese

Cooking Method

Add mussels and water to a pot. Bring to a boil and cook until shells open. Drain and discard mussels that remain closed.
Combine pesto sauce and Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise in a bowl. Top each mussel with a teaspoon of this mixture.
Add grated cheese on top. Bake or toast until the cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Dress up these baked mussels for the red carpet by sprinkling chopped parsley or grinding fresh pepper on top. For extra crunch, sprinkle some breadcrumbs on the shells before baking. To make them even more allettante or enticing for the dinner party, serve some toasted baguette slices, pommes frites, and refreshing beverages. Bookmark this guide and try more quick recipes.