~ Baked Mussels - Japanese Style ~

I love mussels! Well, just the green mussels. I am not very fond of the little black ones. Anyway, I love the baked mussels they have at Japanese restaurant with this orange sauce on top. I finally found out how to make it so I thought I would share with you.

Here's what you need:

• Half shell green mussels - I usually get them at international grocery stores. They are frozen, in a box. This recipe is for about 20 mussels.
• Sriracha hot sauce - Also available at international grocery stores and some big chain grocery stores.

• Kewpie mayo (aka Japanese mayo) - Yummy stuff!! I love just putting this on avocado or apple slices.

That's it!!! Ok this is so simple, I would make it every day except my oven doesn't work...

Step 1 Defrost the mussels
Either in the fridge or in the microwave. The ones I get are cooked already. Optionally, you can take the mussels off the shells and then put them back on the shell. The mussels are usually attached to the shell through this round piece of .... round... thing. It'll be easier to eat if you detach the mussel from the shell before cooking it.


Step 2 Place mussels in a baking pan.



Step 3 Mix the sauce in a bowl. 4 table spoons of mayo and 1 tablespoon of hot sauce. It's fairly spicy. So, if you want less hot sauce, put less.

Step 4. Put the sauce on the mussels.



Step 5 Bake for about 5 - 10 minutes in the toaster oven. Real oven can be used also. Remember that the sauce and the mussel is cooked already. We just want to make it hot and let the sauce thicken a little bit. It's the safest to just watch it. Let the sauce bubble a little bit and wait for little brown spots to show up on the sauce like a good Crème brûlée.


Step 6 Take it out and eat!

I hope you like this as much as I do!!! By the way, that's my beautiful aunt's hands in the picture. She's a great chef!