Midya Boreg (Mussel pie)

Ingredients

Shells:

• ½ cup olive oil
• 6 cups minced onions
• 3 cups uncooked rice
• ½ cup currants
• ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt to taste
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup pine nuts (pignoli)

Fillings:

• 6 dozen mussels
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 cups plain yogurt

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

    479 calories; 20 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 55 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 8 grams sugars; 18 grams protein; 32 milligrams cholesterol; 494 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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12 to 14 servings

Preparation

1. Heat oil in heavy saucepan. Add onions and saute until wilted.
2. Stir in rice, currants, spices and salt to taste. Pour in water, stir, and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover saucepan, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. If liquid evaporates before rice is cooked, add a little more.
3. Stir in pine nuts. Set aside.
4. Scrub mussels, remove beards and discard any with broken shells. Place mussels in large skillet and set over heat. As soon as they start to open, remove mussels and discard shells. Discard any mussels that do not open. Remove shells over cup or bowl to keep the mussel liquid. Filter the liquid through a double layer of moistened cheesecloth.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Spread one-quarter of the rice on the bottom of each of two 10-inch ovenproof dishes. Push some of the rice up around the edge to make a ”shell.”
7. Arrange half the mussels on each bed of rice and sprinkle with parsley, dill and lemon juice. Reserve 8 to 10 tablespoons of the rice and spread the rest on top of the mussels. Dribble a few tablespoons of the reserved mussel liquid over the rice.
8. Combine 2 tablespoons of the mussel liquid with the yogurt; add the reserved rice and spread half of this mixture evenly over each pie.
9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until tops are lightly browned. Serve hot.

• For the party either bake ahead and carry well wrapped in aluminum foil and overwrapped in newspapers, or arrange to bake at party if there is enough oven space.

1 hour 20 minutes