Mussels With Pancetta And Vermouth

• 2 pounds mussels
• 1/4 cup dry white vermouth or dry white wine
• 2 ounces pancetta
• 1/4 cup finely minced shallots
• zest of 1 lemon, plus lemon juice for finishing
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
• 1/4 cup panko or breadcrumbs
• 2 ounces grated Manchego cheese
• rock salt, for serving

1. Scrub and debeard the mussels.
2. Preheat the broiler.
3. Place a rack in the lower middle position of the oven.
4. Put the mussels and vermouth in a saucepan over high heat and cover.
5. Cook just until the mussels pop open, 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Remove them with tongs as they open.
7. (Any mussels that do not open can be pried open using an oyster shucker or discarded.)
8. When the mussels are done, strain the mussel liquor and reserve.
9. Let the mussels cool.
10. In a wide saute pan, cook the pancetta over medium heat until it releases some of its fat, about 5 minutes.
11. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft, about 5 more minutes.
12. Add the reserved mussel liquor, lemon zest, and cayenne and deglaze the pan, letting the juices evaporate completely.
13. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the mayonnaise.
14. In a separate bowl, mix the parsley and panko.
15. When the mussels are cool, twist off the top shells and discard.
16. Place the mussels in their bottom shells on a sheet pan.
17. Top each mussel with a small amount of the pancetta-shallot mixture and then coat the top with some of the parsley-panko mixture.
18. Finish each with a sprinkle of Manchego.
19. Broil the mussels until the topping is light brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
20. Dont overcook them or they will get tough.
21. Serve on a bed of rock salt with a squeeze of the lemon juice, if desired.

mussels, white, pancetta, shallots, cayenne, mayonnaise, fresh italian parsley, breadcrumbs, manchego cheese, salt

Taken from www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/mussels-with-pancetta-and-vermouth-recipe/ (may not work)