Ingredients
350g mussels (half shell)
1 Vegetable stock cube
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp fennel seeds
300g orzo
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
a small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 lemon, wedged, to serve
Instructions
Step 1 Put the vegetable stock in a large, deep, lidded frying pan and bring to
the boil. Tip in the mussels, put on the lid and cook for 5
minutes or until the mussels open. Drain, reserving the liquid.
Step 2 Heat the olive oil in the same pan, add the onion and garlic, and
cook gently for 5-10 minutes or until soft. Add the fennel seeds
Stir through the orzo and tomatoes so that all the grains
are coated. Pour the mussel liquid into a jug, leaving the last
gritty bit in the bowl. Top up with boiling water to make 750ml
of liquid, add to the pasta a ladleful at a time, and cook, stirring,
until all the liquid has been absorbed before adding the next.
Once the orzo is cooked, add the mussels to heat through.
Scatter with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.