Mussels with Chorizo in Garlic Sauce

Mussels in garlic sauce with the intriguing smoky flavor of chorizo sausage was one of the dishes I discovered while researching my new book, The Flavors of the Florida Keys.

I enjoyed this dish while sipping a cool glass of white wine and soaking in the glorious ocean view on the terrace of the Alma Restaurant at Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key. What a treat!

You can bring home these Keys flavors with this simple recipe. Chorizo is a pork sausage made with smoked paprika. Any type of smoked sausage can be used.

The commercially raised mussels available today are easy to clean. Just wash them in cold water and scrape off the beard or thin hairs along the shell. (The mussel uses them to attach itself to rocks.)

Complete the meal with a green salad tossed with reduced-fat and -sodium vinaigrette. Each serving has 474 calories with 37 percent of calories from fat.