Whenever I go to take a stroll on the beach I can smell the amazing salty and pungent odor of the rocks by the shore. This typical aroma makes me want to eat shellfish every time! Or maybe it’s because near the beach there are a lot of restaurant and, each time I walk in front of one, there is a smell of fried fish, simmered octopus.. spaghetti with vongole.. (lately I’m trying to go there only early in the morning, so restaurant’s kitchens are still closed..). I assure you, if you love fish you can’t resist!

It happened many times that after a stroll, I went to buy clams or mussels or other types of fish and rush home to cook them!
Making pasta is so easy and quick that you can treat yourself with many dishes without spending too much time in the kitchen. This recipe is exactly what I mean! Well if you have the time to buy fresh mussels, clean  and cook them  it will surely be perfect, but if you have no time, and yet you want to eat a really good pasta, here’s the trick: I often buy frozen mussels. They are ready to eat (especially if you have a microwave in you kitchen), and you don’t have to loose time cleaning them.
Now let’s cook together:

Ingredients

• 400gr of spaghetti
• 300gr of tomato sauce or fresh chopped tomatoes
• 1kg of mussels (with shell) 500gr if shelled
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• chili pepper to taste
• 1 bunch of parsley

Method

Step 1
Clean the mussels shell thoroughly with a knife and rinse them well under running water this will take a while.

Step 2
Boil enough water to cook the spaghetti, when it comes to a boil pour the pasta and cook following the directions on the package

Step 3
While the pasta is cooking pour the oil into a pan with the garlic and the chili pepper. Let it cook for a couple of minute at low heat to infuse the oil with a nice garlicky flavor. Add the mussels and mix well. Cover with a lid and turn the heat to high. Cook for a two to three minutes, or until all the mussels are open.

Step 3
Lower the heat, add the tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes, sprinkle with a tiny pinch of salt and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off, remove the garlic clove and cover with a lid. Chop the parsley

Step 4
Drain the pasta al dente and stir it in the pan at low heat. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.