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You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dishes / Seafood / Green Mussels

Green Mussels

January 23, 2022 by Mahy, Updated February 25, 2022 10 Comments

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Green Mussels Pin

With an extra helping of omega-three than your black mussels, these green mussels will give you a health boost in a  seafood recipe that you’ll want to make again and again. With a lovely green color on the shell lip, they are as appealing as they are tasty. 

A hand holding a tray of green mussels over a white marble surrounded by lemon slices

Green Mussels Recipe

Yes it’s yet another delicious Mussels recipe. Sharing this Green Mussels recipe today as a variation on my super popular How to Cook Mussels with Garlic and Lemon Sauce recipe! And my second popular one: Mussels Marinara which is also known as Mussels Pasta.

 

Today’s green mussels, also known as New Zealand mussels are cooked in the most simplest way-broiled. You can almost think of this recipe as an appetizer or finger food or even party food, however it makes a super main dish too! 

close up of a cooked green mussels stacked together showing the crispy topping and the juicy mussels

The simplicity of today green mussels is that they’re simply topped with a delicious flavor packed topping that’s crispy delicious. So you’ll taste the succulent juicy mussels, the crunchy toping all in one bite. 

It’s a great recipe to serve as a main dish along side pasta or salad. It also makes a fabulous appetizer served with several dips and lemon wedges. My favorite dips to serve with this recipe would be this Spicy Mayo and Tartar Sauce Recipe. Both are terrific recipes with video too.

If you love shellfish, you’ll love getting to know these basics : How to Cook Scallops and How To Cook Lobster Tail

What are Green lipped Mussels

Green-lipped muscles are a species of mussels that is indigenous to New Zealand where they are a  staple diet of people who live there. 

A hand holding a raw green mussel or new zealand mussel on the shell to show the size of the mussel

They are distinctive by the green tinge on the outside of their shell and aren’t found outside of New Zealand. 

What makes them extra special, is that they are seen as a kind of superfood, often being taken in supplement form as they are very high in omega-three fatty acids (much more than the regular type most people eat) as well as anti-inflammatory substances and several vitamins and minerals. 

A hand holding a raw green mussel or new zealand mussel on the shell to show the green shell of the mussel

So, giving these mussels a try, especially in my super quick and delicious green-lipped muscle recipe, might just be worth it. 

How to cook New Zealand Mussels? 

New Zealand mussels are really easy to cook, and with a simple recipe, you can cook them quickly for a satisfying and healthy meal. 

Ingredients for New Zealand mussels

You really don’t need lots of ingredients for this recipe, all you need are your green mussels with panko bread crumbs, minced garlic, lemon zest, kosher salt, fresh parsley or oregano, and chili flakes if you like a little bit of spice along with olive oil. 

raw green mussels on the half shell in a single layer on a baking sheet

Start by defrosting your mussels so they are fully thawed. Then you need to make the simple but delicious topping. 

ingredients for the topping including a bowl of panko bread crumbs, garli, lemon zest, fresh herbs, seasoning and melted butter or oil

Mix panko breadcrumbs together with garlic and lemon zest along with kosher salt, fresh parsley, or oregano (totally up to your preference), and chili flakes (optionally) with olive oil.  

A hand pouring the melted butter over the panko ingredients to mix everything well

Make sure your mussels are spread out evenly on your baking dish and add the topping evenly all over your mussels so they are all coated on top. Now add more olive oil over the top of this and they are ready to be broiled. 

A spoon showing the texture of the final topping ready for the green mussels

Broil them in your oven for 6-8 minutes until golden and well cooked through. 

new zealand mussels or green mussels in a single layer on a baking sheet topped with the panko mixture and ready to go in the oven

Green Mussels Versus Black Mussels

Green-lipped mussels are a great option to use when making a mussel recipe, especially when making a recipe with a topping like this one does. 

They are much larger than your regular black olives, are plumper, and have more substance. They also come with larger shells which help when eating them. 

A fully cooked single green mussel on a marble close up to show the final recipe

This particular type of mussel is also imported from New Zealand, so you normally find them frozen with the shells already opened, ready for you to defrost, and add your topping. This is much easier than when dealing with regular black musses where you would have to steam them open before you cook start cooking them with your toppings. 

Lastly, as mentioned before, these mussels are super healthy, so you enjoy a larger plumper mussel with added health benefits too. 

As you can see, this is a super simple recipe that doesn’t take long to pull together. Certainly not more than 3o minutes, and you have a restaurant-worthy seafood dish on your table thats both healthy and delicious.

Green Mussels Tips

  • You’ll find Green Mussels often labeled as New Zealand Mussels or Green Lipped Mussels in the freezer section.
  • They come in the half shell so it’s easier to cook.
  • Defrost them before proceeding with the recipe.
  • Adjust the panko bread crumb mixture by adding more or less seasoning.
  • Make sure the mussels are about 6 inches away from the heat element in the oven.
  • Top the mussels generously with the panko mixture because they aren’t seasoned otherwise.
  • keep an eye on them because every broiler is different.
  • Serve with pasta or salad for a main dish.
  • Serve with Spicy Mayo and Tartar Sauce Recipe as an appetizer!
  • Leftover Green Mussels recipe are delicious to enjoy within 3 days.

cooked green mussels on the baking tray out of the oven

More Seafood Recipes

  • How To Cook Lobster Tail
  • Air Fryer Salmon
  • Calamari
  • Sockeye Salmon With Lemon Butter Sauce
  • Tuna Steak Recipe
  • Tuna Salad Recipe with Olive Oil Dressing
  • Fish Fry
  • Baked Mahi Mahi
  • Baked Salmon With Greek Dressing
  • Grilled Salmon
  • Mediterranean Baked Fish
  • Sushi Burrito & Spicy Salmon Sushi
  • Crab Sushi For Sushi Stacks

A hand holding a green mussel over a tray of cooked new zealand mussels to show the size and texture

A hand holding a green mussel over a tray of cooked new zealand mussels to show the size and texture
4.41 from 15 votes
Print

Green Mussels

With an extra helping of omega-three than your black mussels, these green mussels will give you a health boost in a  seafood recipe that you’ll want to make again and again. With a lovely green color on the shell lip, they are as appealing as they are tasty. 

Course Appetizer, finger food, Main Course, Main Dish, Party Food
Cuisine American, Italian, New Zealand
Keyword black mussels, black mussels vs green mussels, green lipped mussels, green mussels, how to cook green mussels, new zealand mussels, seafood, seafood recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 234 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Mussels

  • 2 pounds Green Mussels

Topping

  • 1 1/2 cups Panko bread crumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 Tablespoons parsley minced
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt and pepper
  • pinch chilli flakes optional
  • 1/3 cup olive oil or melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat the broiler to low.

  2. Bring all ingredients for the panko and add them in a bowl.

    ingredients for the topping including a bowl of panko bread crumbs, garli, lemon zest, fresh herbs, seasoning and melted butter or oil
  3. Add the melted butter and blend in until it's fluffy.

    A hand pouring the melted butter over the panko ingredients to mix everything well
  4. The mixture should be crumbly and moist, not dry. Add extra olive oil or melted butter if needed.

    A spoon showing the texture of the final topping ready for the green mussels
  5. Layer the green mussels flat on a baking sheet in a single layer.

    raw green mussels on the half shell in a single layer on a baking sheet
  6. Divide the crumb topping evenly over the mussels.

    new zealand mussels or green mussels in a single layer on a baking sheet topped with the panko mixture and ready to go in the oven
  7. Broil until golden.

    cooked green mussels on the baking tray out of the oven
  8. Serve right away and enjoy

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Green Mussels Tips

  • You'll find Green Mussels often labeled as New Zealand Mussels or Green Lipped Mussels in the freezer section.
  • They come in the half shell so it's easier to cook.
  • Defrost them before proceeding with the recipe.
  • Adjust the panko bread crumb mixture by adding more or less seasoning.
  • Make sure the mussels are about 6 inches away from the heat element in the oven.
  • Top the mussels generously with the panko mixture because they aren't seasoned otherwise.
  • keep an eye on them because every broiler is different.
  • Serve with pasta or salad for a main dish.
  • Serve with Spicy Mayo and Tartar Sauce Recipe as an appetizer!
  • Leftover Green Mussels recipe are delicious to enjoy within 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Green Mussels
Amount Per Serving
Calories 234 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 22mg7%
Sodium 428mg19%
Potassium 288mg8%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 236IU5%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 52mg5%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Parties, Recipes, Seafood, Videos Tagged With: bread crumbs, broiled, chilli pepper, easy seafood dinner, fresh herbs, fresh parsley, garlic, green lipped mussels, lemon zest, melted butter, new zealand mussels, olive oil, panko

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peter

    July 23, 2022 at 1:12 pm

    5 stars
    On a keto diet and didn’t have keto ‘breadcrumbs’ handy. Used ground almonds with some crispy caramelised onion instead and was delicious. Simple and tasty. Will definitely make again.

    Reply
  2. Katherine

    January 26, 2022 at 6:24 am

    5 stars
    I hadn’t seen green mussles before. Will keep an eye out so I can try this!

    Reply
  3. Kate

    January 26, 2022 at 4:42 am

    5 stars
    I’ve never tried cooking green mussels, and hadn’t realised they were nutritionally superior to black mussels – definitely looking out for them at the fishmonger now! Yum.

    Reply
  4. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

    January 26, 2022 at 4:31 am

    5 stars
    Green lipped mussels are my husband’s favourite so I’ll be making this for him. Love the crunchy topping.

    Reply
  5. Dannii

    January 26, 2022 at 4:09 am

    5 stars
    My husband loves mussels and these look amazing with the breadcrumbs on top.

    Reply
  6. Heather Perine

    January 24, 2022 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    I love mussels! But usually just enjoy them in some sort of broth..but this topping was a wonderful change of pace. Delicious!

    Reply
  7. Toni

    January 24, 2022 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good!! Everyone at my house really loved it!

    Reply
  8. Shadi Hasanzade

    January 24, 2022 at 1:23 pm

    5 stars
    Yes Yes! I love everything about this! We buy a ton of mussels and now I can’t wait to make them using your recipe!

    Reply
  9. Elaine

    January 24, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    5 stars
    I could eat a whole bunch of these and still ask for more. These mussels look absolutely stunning!

    Reply
  10. Beth Sachs

    January 24, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    5 stars
    Loving the tasty topping on these green mussels!

    Reply
4.41 from 15 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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Mahy PicHi, I'm Mahy, a recipe developer, food stylist, culinary instructor, photographer, wife and busy mom! Welcome to my blog!...Read More

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