Mediterranean Mussel and Chickpea Soup with Fennel and Lemon

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• Pinch of chile flakes
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh mussels, debearded and scrubbed
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup Basic Chickpeas (page 220)
• 1 small bulb fennel, tough outer leaves removed, sliced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the garlic and chile flakes.
2. Before the garlic colors, add the mussels and white wine.
3. Increase the heat to high, cover, and let the mussels steam for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they just open.
4. Discard any mussels that dont open and transfer the others to a baking dish with any cooking liquid that is in the pan.
5. Set in the refrigerator until cool enough to handle.
6. Once cool, remove the mussels from the shells, and discard the shells.
7. (Note: You can keep the mussels in the fridge until ready to serve the soup, then proceed from this point.)
8. In a medium-size saucepan, combine the mussels, cooking liquid, chickpeas, and sliced fennel and heat through.
9. The fennel should retain a bit of a bite.
10. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
11. Add the lemon juice and parsley.
12. Serve immediately.

extravirgin olive oil, garlic, chile flakes, fresh mussels, white wine, chickpeas, bulb fennel, kosher salt, lemon, parsley

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mediterranean-mussel-and-chickpea-soup-with-fennel-and-lemon-383840 (may not work)