Mussels in beer broth with cheesy rarebits recipe

Name: Mussels in beer broth with cheesy rarebits
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 50g butter; 1 leek, trimmed and finely sliced; 25g (1oz) flour; 1 x 330ml bottle beer; 125g (4oz) Cheddar, grated; 1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard; 8 sourdough slices, toasted; 2 echalion shallots, finely sliced; 2 garlic cloves, chopped; 1kg (2lb) fresh mussels, cleaned and beards removed (see tip); 1 tbsp cream; handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Shake up your midweek meals with this marvellous mussels recipe. Cooking mussels couldn't be easier – steaming in a beer and shallot broth takes no time at all and serving with cheesy rarebits for soaking up all of that delicious cooking liquor makes it all the more satisfying. This quick dinner is sure to impress!

See method

Serves 4
10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook
422 calories / serving

Shop your ingredients

Tesco British Unsalted Butter 250G
Aldi Price Match
50g butter
£1.85
£7.40/kg
Tesco Sliced Leeks 200g
1 leek, trimmed and finely sliced
£1.00
£5.00/kg
Stockwell & Co. Plain Flour 1.5Kg
Aldi Price Match
25g (1oz) flour
£0.70
£0.47/kg
Angelo Poretti Premium Italian Lager Beer Bottle 660ml
2 for £5 or 4 for £8 Clubcard Price - Selected Beers
Offer valid for delivery from 14/09/2026 until 07/12/2026
1 x 330ml bottle beer
£2.60
£3.94/litre
Creamfields Mature Grated Cheddar 250g
Aldi Price Match
125g (4oz) Cheddar, grated
£1.89
£7.56/kg
Tesco Dijon Mustard 185G
Aldi Price Match
1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
£0.45
£2.43/kg
Jason's Superb Sprouted Grains Sourdough Bread 450g
£1.90 Clubcard Price
(£4.22/kg)
Offer valid for delivery from 29/09/2026 until 19/10/2026
8 sourdough slices, toasted
£2.20
£4.89/kg
Tesco Finest Echalion Shallots 400G
£1.20 Clubcard Price
(£3.00/kg)
Offer valid for delivery from 06/10/2026 until 19/10/2026
2 echalion shallots, finely sliced
£1.55
£3.88/kg
Tesco Garlic 4 Pack
Aldi Price Match
2 garlic cloves, chopped
£0.87
£0.22/each
Tesco Finest Live Scottish Mussels 1Kg
1kg (2lb) fresh mussels, cleaned and beards removed (see tip)
£4.50
£4.50/kg
Tesco British Double Cream 150Ml
1 tbsp cream
£1.10
£7.33/litre
Tesco Fresh Cut Flat Leaf Parsley 30G
Aldi Price Match
handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
£0.50
£16.67/kg

Method

For the rarebits, melt half the butter in a pan. Add the leek and cook until softened. Stir in the flour, cook for 2 mins, then stir in 125ml beer, the cheese and ½ tbsp mustard. Season with a little black pepper.
Meanwhile, in a separate, lidded pan, melt the remaining butter. Add the shallots and fry for 5 mins, or until golden. Add the garlic and the remaining beer; leave to bubble for 2-3 mins.
Tip in the mussels, then cover and steam for 4-5 mins, until opened (discard any that remain closed). Transfer the mussels to a serving bowl, leaving the liquor behind in the pan.
Meanwhile, spread the rarebit mixture on the bread. Toast under a hot grill until melted and golden. Whisk the cream, parsley and remaining mustard into the mussel liquor; season. Pour over the mussels. Serve with the rarebits.

Tip: To remove the beard, hold the mussel in one hand and grab the fibres with the other (using a tea towel for grip). Pull sharply towards the 'hinge'.