Mussels in a Ginger and Chilli Broth

Mussels in a Ginger and Chilli Broth

October was the eighth month of the year until it was shifted back by July and August (I blame the Roman Empire). On the eighth day of what was formerly the eighth month of the year I made my eighty-eighth soup from The Soup Book. Another recipe by Roopa Gulati (the eighth time I've mentioned her), and it was another culinary and olfactory triumph!

The main ingredients are mussels, butter, onions, bird eye red chillies, root ginger, garlic, lemongrass, ginger wine, fish stock, coconut milk, coconut cream and coriander leaves.You heat the butter and throw in the onions, chillies, ginger, garlic and lemongrass. I forgot the ginger, so had to fry it separately then added it to the broth when I added the mussels at a later stage.

Dishing up the broth

I wasn't sure where I'd get mussels. The spouse said he'd try his favourite fishmonger. It's been a several months since his last visit, but the fishmonger remembered him and my blog. Anyway, the spouse got the mussels and was in charge of cleaning and checking them.
I had to go out to find ginger wine. It's not something we tend to keep in the house and the spouse suggested a specialist shop not too far from here. As usual I wasn't disappointed. I just needed 125ml for the recipe and wondered how I would use up the rest. Don't worry: you can make Whisky Macs or long drinks by topping up the ginger wine with lemonade.

Mussels in ginger and chilli broth

The soup  was delicious, the younger offspring gave it his seal of approval, and it's now on the list of soups to make again (whenever I finish working my way through the 199 soup recipes).

What's the Buzz?

You never know what else you'll read about in a blog about soup and the occasional bee. Turning on the radio the other morning I heard this line from a song: "Not to put too fine a point on it, say I'm the only bee in your bonnet." I discovered that it's from Birdhouse in your Soul by They Might Be Giants. The only other piece of music I know by the group is Boss of Me, the theme song of Malcolm in the Middle (one of my favourite comedy series).
On another day I heard a discussion on the Mooney Show about the newly formed Westport Bee Keepers' Club. Take a look at the website - there's a full programme of events in 2011-2012.
I also read about a Turkish film, Bal (Honey), which won an award at the Berlin Film Festival last year. It's the third film of a trilogy.
And finally, the spouse sent me a link to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.