Marinara-Style Mussels

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Salt
• black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 pounds medium mussels
• well scrubbed

Instructions

1. Put the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
2. When its hot, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the paprika and cook for just a few seconds, then add the flour and some salt and pepper and stir until smooth.
4. Slowly pour in 2 cups water, stirring constantly to form a smooth sauce.
5. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently; cook until the sauce is thick, about 8 minutes.
6. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley.
7. Add the mussels and cover the skillet.
8. Cook until all (or nearly all) the mussels are open, about 5 minutes.
9. (Discard any mussels that do not open.)
10. Garnish with the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley and serve immediately.