Grilled Mussels with Cassava Crust and Cilantro Lime Butter

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the cassava mixture by combining grated cassava, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and chili flakes in a bowl. Set aside.

   Tip: Squeeze out excess moisture from the grated cassava with a clean kitchen towel to achieve a crispier crust when grilled.

2. 2

   Make the cilantro lime butter by creaming 4 tablespoons of softened butter with minced garlic, fresh cilantro, lime zest, and lime juice until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

   Tip: Prepare this butter ahead of time and refrigerate; it will firm up and be easier to dollop onto the hot mussels.

3. 3

   Pat the cleaned mussels dry with paper towels, then arrange them gill-side up on a large baking sheet.

   Tip: Discard any mussels that remain open after gently tapping them; they may be dead.

4. 4

   Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 400°F). Once hot, carefully place mussels on the grill grates, gill-side up.

   Tip: Use a grill mat or small perforated grill pan to prevent mussels from falling through the grates.

5. 5

   Grill mussels for 3-4 minutes until the shells begin to open slightly. Once opened, immediately spoon the cassava crust mixture onto each mussel's open shell.

   Tip: Work quickly as mussels cook; discard any that don't open after 5 minutes.

6. 6

   Continue grilling for another 4-5 minutes until the cassava crust turns golden brown and crispy. The mussel meat should be opaque and cooked through.

   Tip: Rotate the baking sheet or move mussels to different heat zones if they're browning unevenly.

7. 7

   Remove grilled mussels from heat and transfer to a serving platter. Top each mussel with a generous dollop of the cilantro lime butter.

   Tip: The residual heat from the mussels will gently melt the butter over the cassava crust.

8. 8

   Garnish with additional fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately while the mussels are still hot.

   Tip: Provide small seafood forks or picks for guests to easily extract the mussel meat from shells.