Fried mussels with tarator recipe (midye tava)

Created by Olivia Andrews

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Cuisine: Turkish
Serves 6-8 as a starter or snack

Ingredients

1kg mussels, scrubbed, bearded
330ml bottle cold lager
Vegetable or rice bran oil, to deep-fry
2 egg whites
100g (⅔ cup) self-raising flour
Plain flour, to dust

Tarator
30g slice white bread, crusts removed
50g (½ cup) walnuts
2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp tahini
140g (½ cup) Greek-style yoghurt
¼ cup finely chopped dill, plus extra, to serve
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

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Preparation

To make tarator, soak bread in water for 5 minutes, then squeeze out water. Process walnuts in a food processor to fine crumbs. Add bread, garlic, lemon juice and tahini, season with salt and process until combined. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in yoghurt, dill and oil, and season with salt and pepper. Add water for a thinner consistency, if desired. Refrigerate until needed. Makes 1½ cups.

Heat a large saucepan over high heat. Add mussels and 60ml (¼ cup) beer and cover. Cook, shaking pan, for 1 minute or until shells have slightly opened. Drain, remove mussels from shells, then drain on paper towel.

Fill a deep-fryer one-third full with oil and heat over medium heat to 180°C (or until a cube of bread turns golden in 10 seconds).

Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites to stiff peaks. Place self-raising flour in a large bowl, then gradually whisk in remaining 270ml beer, then egg whites. Place plain flour in a separate bowl. Season. Working in 3 batches, dust mussels in seasoned flour, shake off excess, then coat in batter. Fry for 2 minutes or until golden, then remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Whisk batter between each batch to aerate.

Season mussels and serve with tarator, scattered with extra dill.

Drink Raki and beer can be served with this dish, but also try a 2010 Brokenwood Hunter Valley Semillon ($23), a 2010 Andrew Thomas Braemore Semillon ($27) or the Taltarni Sparkling Brut ($19).

Photography by Anson Smart.

If you enjoyed this Fried mussels with tarator recipe (midye tava) then browse more Turkish recipes, appetiser recipes, seafood recipes, easy recipes, entertaining recipes, valentine's day recipes and our most popular hainanese chicken rice recipe.

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