• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Little Ferraro Kitchen logo
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Comforting Fall Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Comforting Fall Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Cookbooks
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Asian + Hawaiian Recipes

    Thai Coconut Curry Mussels

    Published: Jan 17, 2023 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Thai inspired coconut curry mussels are loaded with bold flavors of ginger, red curry paste and fresh herbs. The broth becomes creamy and flavorful and once you dip the mussel into the aromatic coconut curry broth, you won't be able to stop at just one!

    Steamed mussels in a coconut curry broth with lime and fresh herbs.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love this Recipe
    • 📋 Ingredients
    • 💦 How to Clean Mussels
    • 🥘 How to Make Coconut Curry Mussels
    • Variations
    • 📍Recipe Tip
    • More Seafood Recipes to Try
    • Thai Coconut Curry Mussels

    Inspired by some of my favorite Thai flavors, these coconut curry mussels are layered with intense flavors of ginger and garlic and a touch of fish sauce for added umami.

    I could, whole heartedly devour the entire bowl and dare I say, these are the best coconut curry mussels ever! The sauce slightly thickens from the coconut milk and all of the savory and slightly sweet layers are finished with fresh and bright lime juice and cilantro. Truly a flavor explosion in every single bite! If you would like a loser sauce, add some ½ a cup of homemade seafood stock for a broth like sauce.

    Why You'll Love this Recipe

    • Layers of bold flavors! From the ginger, garlic, creamy coconut milk and bright fresh lime juice and herbs.
    • Mussels are quick to prepare and cook in under 10 minutes!
    • This one is for the seafood lovers! If you love recipes such as steamed clams with white wine or classic cioppino, you will love all the flavors in these steamed Thai mussels!

    📋 Ingredients

    This recipe would be fantastic with other seafood as well, such as clams or shrimp. Use the broth ingredients as a guideline and add more sweet or saltiness as preferred.

    • Coconut Oil: This is used to saute the aromatics and works well with the coconut milk. Other options are a neutral oil such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
    • Mussels: Look for fresh mussels without any cracks in the shell. Mussels should be cooked the same day they are bought and always kept cold. More on how to clean mussels below.
    • Shallot, Garlic and Ginger: Aromatics to get the dish going. You could also substitute the shallot for red onion or sweet onion.
    • Red Curry Paste: I took help from the store and used Thai Red Curry Paste which has great flavor. Green curry paste would work great too.
    • Coconut Milk: For creaminess and richness. Use a full fat coconut milk, which will ultimately make for a creamier coconut curry broth.
    • Fish Sauce: Just a few drops of fish sauce gives the entire dish a lovely savoriness and saltiness that goes so well with the other flavors.
    • Brown Sugar: Or you could use palm sugar, but brown sugar is easily accessible and just a bit of sweetness, and again, layers so swell with the other savory and salty flavors.
    • Fresh Herbs and Lime: Fresh cilantro and mint leaves are added as a finishing touch. Thai basil would be a great addition as well.

    💦 How to Clean Mussels

    Mussels take longer to clean then to cook, but it is very important to take the time to clean the mussels well. Once that's done, steaming the mussels is a breeze.

    1. Once you bring home the mussels from the store, remove them from the bag and place the mussels on top of ice in a large bowl and keep them cold in the refrigerator.
    2. When ready to cook, use a Shellfish scrubber or something similar and scrub each mussel under cold water.
    3. Each mussel has a "beard", which is how the mussel holds onto rocks in the water and needs to be removed before cooking. Use a towel and pull off each beard.
    4. Place the cleaned mussels in ice cold water until ready to cook.
    5. Discard any mussels with cracked or broken shells and mussels that don't open/close when tapped gently.

    🥘 How to Make Coconut Curry Mussels

    Once the mussels are all cleaned and you've gathered all your ingredients, everything else is pretty quick.

    Mussels cook in less then 10 minutes, which makes them a perfect weeknight meal.

    1. Place a pot over medium heat and melt the coconut oil. Add the shallot and saute for 1-2 minutes, then add the ginger and garlic and cook for another minute.
    2. Stir in curry paste and pour in the coconut milk and stir everything together. Add the brown sugar and fish sauce and give the curry sauce one more stir.
    3. Add the cleaned mussels to the coconut curry broth and gently stir the mussels into the broth so they are coated with the sauce. Place a lid on the pot and cook until the mussels just open up, about 6-7 minutes.
    4. Once done, plate the coconut curry mussels into wide bowls and pour the broth on top and garnish with fresh herbs and lime.
    Steamed mussels in a bowl of coconut curry broth with fresh mint and cilantro.

    Variations

    • Spicy: Add a teaspoon of sriracha or sambal for added heat.
    • Other Aromatics: Add a few pieces of lemongrass or kefir lime leaves for an additional citrus flavor. If using lemongrass, gently pound on the stalk to release the flavors.
    • Other Proteins: Instead of mussels, substitute with shrimp or clams or even salmon and make a flavorful salmon curry.

    📍Recipe Tip

    • When soaking the mussels, add a teaspoon of flour or salt to the water. This will help the mussels spit out any sand or debris.
    How long should you steam mussels?

    Once cleaned, mussels cook very quickly! Whether you are steaming mussels or boiling, mussels cook in about 6-7 minutes, just until the shells open up.

    More Seafood Recipes to Try

    • Fresh clams on ice in a bowl.
      How to Clean Clams
    • Fresh herb roasted salmon.
      Herb Crusted Salmon
    • Spanish steamed clams in green sauce with sautéed onion, white wine and fresh green herbs.
      Clams in Green Sauce (Almejas en Salsa Verde)
    • Easy grilled sockeye salmon recipe.
      Grilled Sockeye Salmon with Mediterranean Glaze
    • Seafood and Chorizo Paella
    • Steamed Clams with Corn and Tomatoes
    • Clams in Green Sauce
    Coconut curry mussels in a creamy coconut broth with fresh lime as garnish.

    Thai Coconut Curry Mussels

    Samantha Ferraro

    LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    Steamed coconut curry mussels layered with Thai inspired flavors of red curry paste, ginger, garlic garlic and creamy coconut milk.
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 757 kcal

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 pounds mussels
    • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
    • 1 medium sized shallot diced
    • 2 large garlic cloves chopped finely
    • 1 teaspoon grated or chopped ginger
    • 3 tablespoons red curry paste
    • 13 ounce can of full fat coconut milk
    • ½ teaspoon fish sauce
    • 1 tablespoons brown sugar
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
    • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves for garnish
    • 1 lime cut into wedges, for serving
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place a pot over medium heat and melt the coconut oil.
    • Add the chopped shallot and saute for 1-2 minutes to soften, then add the ginger and garlic and saute for another minute.
    • Stir the curry paste into the oil and pour in the coconut milk and give the sauce a good stir. Add the brown sugar and fish sauce and give the curry sauce one more stir. This is a good time to taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
    • Add the cleaned mussels to the coconut curry broth and gently stir the mussels into the broth so they are coated with the sauce. Place a lid on the pot and cook until the mussels just open up, about 6-7 minutes.
    • Once done, plate the mussels into wide bowls and pour the broth on top.
    • Garnish with fresh herbs and lime and serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    Discard any mussels that don't open or that have cracked shells.
    Other aromatics to add: lemongrass, kefir lime leaves, green onions.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 757kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 33gFat: 60gSaturated Fat: 48gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 811mgPotassium: 1292mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 4305IUVitamin C: 36mgCalcium: 167mgIron: 17mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!

    More Easy Asian & Hawaiian Recipes

    • Recipe for sweet and refreshing lychee mojito with cucumber and mint.
      Cucumber Lychee Mojito
    • Thai beef salad with cucumbers, mint and mango.
      Thai Beef Salad with Mango
    • Vegan rice paper rolls with peanut sauce.
      Vegetable Rice Paper Rolls (Fresh Spring Rolls)
    • Asian cucumber salad seasoned with gochugaru, sesame seeds and soy sauce.
      Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    • Print

    Weeknight Mediterranean Shopping List

    Subscribe to get the Mediterranean shopping list and to be the 1st to get brand new recipes!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Skylar says

      June 17, 2023 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      We go to Little Ferraro Kitchen for the Mediterranean recipes but thought I should try something different. Dont get the "Lite" coconut milk, it seems its just watered dow a lot. We are waiting for her latest cookbook that we ordered yesterday. The first cookbook is Wonderful.

      Reply
    2. larry says

      February 02, 2022 at 8:53 pm

      5 stars
      This dish was so delicious and was easy to make. The flavors were truly awesome. I will make this dish again and perhaps at time mix with clams and or shrimp.

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        February 03, 2022 at 10:39 am

        Thank you so much Larry! Shrimp and clams would be fantastic!!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Samantha! I started this blog for my love of world cuisine and cultural flavors! You’ll find everything here from Jewish recipes, Middle Eastern, Italian and more!

    More about me →

    Fall Recipes

    • Roasted butternut squash pasta topped with fried sage and pancetta.
      Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce with Sage
    • The perfect fall apple cake, seasoned with floral and earthy cardamom, bright orange zest and loaded with chunks of sweet apples. And perfect to serve alongside your favorite warm drink.
      Cardamom Apple Cake
    • Spanish inspired chicken stew with olives and potatoes.
      Spanish Chicken Stew
    • Classic osso buco recipe served over creamy polenta and garnished with herb gremolata.
      Osso Buco with Gremolata
    • Julia Child's creamy potato leek soup with fresh thyme and olive oil on top.
      Julia Child's Creamy Potato Leek Soup
    • Fasulye is a hearty green bean and tomato stew with cubed meat and served with rice.
      Fasulye (Turkish Green Bean Stew with Meat)

    Order My Latest Cookbook!

    One Pot Mediterranean cookbook cover
    Buy This Book Online
    Buy from Amazon Kindle
    Buy from IndieBound
    Buy from Barnes and Noble
    Buy from Amazon
    One Pot Mediterranean
    Buy now!

    Trending Recipes

    • Julia Child's Salad Nicoise
    • Creamy and easy tomato mascarpone sauce with parmesan and fresh basil.
      Creamy Tomato Mascarpone Sauce with Pasta
    • Steamed clams in white wine with garlic.
      Steamed Clams with White Wine and Garlic
    • Pearled couscous with colorful roasted vegetables.
      Israeli Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables
    • Turkish Sumac Onions
    • Easy French seafood stew with shrimp, mussels, clams and halibut.
      Simple Bouillabaisse Recipe (French Seafood Stew)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Featured In

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · Samantha Ferraro · Little Ferraro Kitchen · All Rights Reserved