Mussels with Piri Piri Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 pound piece prosciutto, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1/4 pound chorizo, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 cup thinly sliced white onions
• 1 cup thinly sliced green bell peppers
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons Piri-Piri Sauce, recipe follows
• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans tomatoes, juiced drained from one can and all crushed with hands
• 2/3 cup dry white wine, such as Portugal's vinho verde
• 3 1/2 dozen small mussels in shell, scrubbed and bearded
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a cataplana (or large saute pan with a tight-fitting lid), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the prosciutto and chorizo and cook until browned, about 2 minutes. Add the white onions, bell peppers, and red onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the bay leaves, piri-piri, tomatoes and 1/3 cup of the wine. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Add the remaining 1/3 cup wine, mussels, 2 tablespoons of parsley and 2 tablespoons of cilantro and stir to combine. Close the lid tightly and simmer 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat, uncover, and discard any mussels that have not opened. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Divide among 4 individual serving bowls and garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and 1 tablespoon cilantro.

Piri-Piri Sauce:

3/4 cup olive oil

2 fresh jalapenos, coarsely chopped, stems, seeds and all

1 fresh poblano, coarsely chopped, stems, seeds and all

1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

Combine all of the ingredients except the garlic in a medium, heavy saucepan over high heat. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the garlic, remove from heat, and cool to room temperature. When the mixture is cool, pour into the bowl of a food processor or blender and pulse several times until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container, and refrigerate, tightly covered, for 7 days before using. (The Piri-Piri will keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.)

Yield: 1 1/2 cups