Tuesday, September 28, 2010

carabas mussels and lentil soup

the other day i went out to dinner at carrabs on the black horse pike in turnersville. to be served as my entree, i ordered the mussels and a bowl of the sausage and lentil soup.  first things first, the mussels were divine!!  they were perfectly cooked and were not chewy.  they came in a wonderfully blended white wine and garlic sauce.  the taste and texture of the sauce was quite rich due to the heavy amount of butter the cook used.  i am fairly certain i tasted some thyme in there as well.  the sauce was so tasty i soaked up whatever was left with the warm loaf of bread the waitress gave me.  Next, i had the sausage and lentil soup which is a staple on their menu.  inside the soup were chunks, not pieces, of sausage the size of an infants fist.  the lentils were prepared so well that i could feel their slightly course texture on my tongue.  the soup has quite a kick as well.  nicely spiced with pepper and other seasoning giving it a delayed spicy-ness.

2 and a half hell yeahs 

4 comments:

  1. My mouth is watering...but it could also be the fact that I'm hungry from not eating breakfast, but regardless it sounds amazing and your imagery is awesome. I need to go there tonight, yes TONIGHT, I'm not waiting for another day. And I am going to try these Mussels. which i love, and the lentil/sausage soup. Hope its as good as your experience.

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  2. Mojo even though I probably never eat lentil soup or mussels your description was great. I can't to read your next post

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  3. I Like Carrabba's. With multiple years in cooking myself,here is the ingredient that makes it pretty extra loveable. Pernod or other anise/licorice flavored liqueur. Along with other spices.

    Carrabba's Italian Grill Cozze in Bianco

    4 cups mussels
    2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    2 tbsp chopped yellow onion
    2 tbsp chopped garlic
    2 tbsp Pernod or other anise/licorice flavored liqueur
    1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
    ½ lemon, juiced

    lemon butter sauce:

    ¼ cup real butter
    2 tbsp minced yellow onion
    2 tbsp minced garlic
    1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
    2 tbsp dry white wine
    Kosher salt and white pepper, to taste
    2 tbsp cold butter

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  4. Simple frozen soup that hopefully that spiced it up a bit more.

    Carrabba's Italian Sausage and Lentil Soup

    1 lb Italian sausage
    1 large onion, chopped
    1 stalk celery, chopped
    2 large carrots, chopped
    1 small zucchini, chopped
    6 cups chicken broth
    2 x 14½ oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1 tspn salt
    2 cups dry lentils, rinsed
    black pepper, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, to taste

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