Garlic Festival Foods Steamed Mussels with Sake and Garlic Recipe

3 pounds fresh mussels, cleaned and beards removed

3 cups sake

10 - 15 garlic cloves, minced

4 slices fresh ginger root

Fresh ground black pepper

Several sprigs of Chinese parsley

Soak mussels in cold water for 1 hour before cooking. Drain. Place all ingredients except mussels in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Add mussels and cook 5 - 6 minutes or until all mussels have opened. Remove mussels to serving bowls, discarding any unopened. Spoon cooking broth over mussels.

Serve with rice, Japanese cabbage, or spinach salad and more sake.