Fast & Fabulous – A Gourmet Dinner in 5 Minutes!

New Zealand Greenshell Mussels over Angel Hair Pasta with a Spicy Fresh Tomato Herb Broth


A delicious dinner cooked in 5 minutes. The clock is running so here we go:

Mussels and their liquid are added to 1 cup of boiling water for 2 minutes to heat through. That’s boiling water for pasta in the pot behind.

Meanwhile saute a good amount of minced garlic (you can use a garlic press, it’s fast) in a generous butter/olive oil mixture for one minute. In the meantime, chop ripe tomatoes and fresh herbs such as basil and oregano, then add to the pan along with some dry white wine and red chili flakes. Cook angel hair pasta in boiling water until al dente, 4 to 5 minutes. Chop parsley.

Add mussels and all the liquid to the tomato/garlic/herb/wine sauce. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and sea salt to taste.


Place pasta in a bowl, add mussels, and ladle the tomato broth on top. Garnish with parsley and lemon. Serve with crusty bread to sop up the flavorful broth.

5 Minutes start to finish – Watch out Rachael Ray!
Do you have a “Fast & Fabulous” meal to share?


Here’s the tip: Use Trader Joe’s Cooked Gourmet Farm Raised New Zealand Mussels.These mussels are grown in crystal waters of the Marlborough Sounds. After harvesting, each mussel is individually inspected for quality, washed, and vacuum packed to retain its fresh-caught flavor.

8 thoughts on “Fast & Fabulous – A Gourmet Dinner in 5 Minutes!”

  1. I remember eating mussels in New Zealand and our kayaking outing in the Marlborough Sounds (Kenepuru Sound) was one of the highlights of our visit. A nice dish with capellini. I will say more about this kind of pasta soon: thanks for the suggestion.

  2. Lori, My fond memories of NZ Mussels come from the MacArthur Park Restaurant days where the unnamed waiter (you know who I mean)would take the broth, pour it into a glass and drink! I bet he would approve of your improved variation of this dish!

  3. I think I could do this! I am not sure where the mussels I get from Costco come from, but they always taste great to me! I usually steam them in a bit of Sambuca, an anise flavored liquor, along with some fresh herbs. But pasta and mussels is a great combo, so this Fri., when Costco has their seafood extravaganza, I will be getting a couple of #’s to give this a whirl!

  4. Simona – I remember having fabulous oysters in NZ, getting them right at the water’s edge, then turning around and picking a lemon off a tree to garnish them. Magical place. Kayaking there sounds fantastic!

    Cynthia – thanks!

    FA – you crack me up! I remember the broth guzzler well.

    Hi Cyn – thanks for stopping by, I’ll come visit you too. Sambuca! Great idea! I’ll try that. My next mussel madness is with sausage in a Thai broth, I think.

    If the mussels from Costco are frozen then you will have to adjust the timing, as the mussels I am using are fresh cooked, and refrigerated. Let me know how it goes.

  5. Lori Lynn, that really looks beyond scrumptious! Wow. I want some right now, and it’s only 6:55 in the morning. Just gorgeous. And so quick.

    I wish people would stop talking about Trader Joe’s! (We don’t have one here in Champaign, BOO HOO).

  6. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mussels and it’s nice to know Trader Joes has them.
    I will definitely give this a try.
    Delicious!

  7. Oh Lisa – I’m sorry about the Trader Joe’s thing. Cyn mentioned Costco?

    Carol – if you do have a Trader Joe’s nearby, I highly recommend this product, as they are refrigerated, not frozen.

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