Mussel Minestrone

Preparation Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat and when it starts to bubble, stir in the diced vegetables with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring regularly for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are soft, but not yet taking on any colour. Stir in the curry powder and cook for a further 2 minutes, then add the bay leaf, white wine, stock and water. Turn the heat up to bring the soup to the boil, then turn the heat down and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, to reduce the liquid by a third. When you’re ready to eat, turn the heat up to high again, bring the soup to the boil and stir in the drained mussels, discarding any that are still open and do not close when you tap them. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 5 minutes, until the mussels have opened. Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon and discard any that have remained closed. Remove the mussels from their shells and return the meat to the soup. Ladle the minestrone into warmed bowls. Stir half of the parsley through the yogurt, and serve with the toasted sourdough topped with mango chutney, butter and the remaining parsley. From Fortnum & Mason: Christmas & Other Winter Feasts © 2019 by Tom Parker Bowles. Reprinted with permission by 4th Estate, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.

Preparation Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat and when it starts to bubble, stir in the diced vegetables with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring regularly for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are soft, but not yet taking on any colour. Stir in the curry powder and cook for a further 2 minutes, then add the bay leaf, white wine, stock and water. Turn the heat up to bring the soup to the boil, then turn the heat down and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, to reduce the liquid by a third. When you’re ready to eat, turn the heat up to high again, bring the soup to the boil and stir in the drained mussels, discarding any that are still open and do not close when you tap them. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 5 minutes, until the mussels have opened. Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon and discard any that have remained closed. Remove the mussels from their shells and return the meat to the soup. Ladle the minestrone into warmed bowls. Stir half of the parsley through the yogurt, and serve with the toasted sourdough topped with mango chutney, butter and the remaining parsley. From Fortnum & Mason: Christmas & Other Winter Feasts © 2019 by Tom Parker Bowles. Reprinted with permission by 4th Estate, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.