Lunch: Mussels Steamed with Bacon, Beer, and Fennel

Recipe by Robin Bashinsky You may not think of seafood as budget-friendly, but mussels certainly are. If you can't find a 16-ounce beer (a "tall boy"), you can use a 12-ounce beer plus 1/2 cup broth or water. If there's wiggle room in your budget, pick u

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Mussels Steamed with Bacon, Beer, and Fennel

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) fennel bulb with stalks
1 1/2 ounces applewood-smoked bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
10 ounce red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (16-ounce) can beer
1 1/2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded (about 40)
4 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut into 1/3-inch pieces (about 3/4 cup)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Trim tough outer leaves from fennel; mince feathery fronds to measure 2 tablespoons. Remove and discard stalks. Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise, and discard core. Vertically slice bulb.
Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat for 3 minutes or until crisp, stirring frequently. Add fennel bulb, potatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook 10 minutes or until fennel is lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to high. Add beer, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; bring to a boil. Stir in mussels and green beans; cover and cook 4 minutes or until mussels open. Discard any unopened shells. Stir in juice. Divide mussel mixture evenly among 4 bowls, and spoon broth evenly over mussels. Sprinkle each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fennel fronds.

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