Baked Tahong With Cheese and Garlic Recipe
One of the most well-loved appetizers and seafood dishes is baked tahong or baked mussels often enjoyed through a baked tahong with cheese and garlic recipe.
Tahong or mussels can be abundantly found in coastal areas, so they get sold at a cheap price. Getting some mussels will never be a problem for you if you’re from the Philippines.
Baked tahong is also a healthy, fulfilling dish that you can serve to your seafood-loving family, friends, and customers.
Due to popular demand, we’re revealing our baked tahong with cheese and garlic recipe in this post.
How to Make Baked Tahong
Let’s start off with the basics of how to make baked tahong.
- Preheat the oven for baking and set it to 200°C.
- Boil the mussels for 10 minutes or until the shells open. Makes sure to remove the residue along with the other half of the shell.
- Arrange the shells on a baking tray. Then, top them with grated cheese.
- Mix the cream cheese spread and minced garlic together in a separate container. Then, get your desired amount of the mixture and shape it into a ball.
- Place the balled mixture on top of the mussels.
- Bake the mussels for 15 minutes at 200°C, or until the cheese melts.
- Top the mussels with spring onion before serving.
Origin of Baked Tahong
The origins of baked mussels or tahong had been culturally dull. However, it became a staple across dining tables in the Philippines.
Across the region, recipes may vary due to flavors being added. Each unique flavor may come from a spice, margarine which can be a substitute for butter. Despite the differences, baked mussels or baked tahong should be simple on its own.
Ratios may also vary. However, the ingredients barely differ. Garlic, calamansi, and butter should always be present. Moreover, these ingredients add something unforgettable to the dish.
The flavor of the garlic gives a sharp taste on the first bite. On the other hand, calamansi provides a tang flavor that complements every seafood. Lastly, the butter adds milk fat which ties all the flavors together.
How to Clean Tahong or Mussels
When eaten with a tasty sauce, fresh mussels should taste delicious. It can also be consumed with a delicious pasta dish.
However, in order to keep the mussels fresh while being cooked and prepared, ocean dirt and sand must be removed from the mussels. The beards coming from the shells should be also discarded.
How to Clean Tahong
- Examine the mussels.
After purchasing the mussels, remove them immediately from the packaging. The mussels may be suffocated if placed on its packaging for too long. If you don’t have enough time to sort them, make sure to at least move them from the packaging to a bowl. Then, place them in the refrigerator or cover them with ice.
- Discard cracked, smashed, or open mussels.
Carefully check each mussel. Any mussels with damage on it should be discarded. These types of mussels may have a chance of being dead. An open mussel should also be discarded. In addition, an open mussel indicates that it’s already dead.
- Store fresh mussels in the fridge.
Place the mussels in a clean bowl. Make sure to also cover them with a bag full of ice. The plastic bag should be covered with a damp cloth. This helps keep the mussels alive and fresh until you cook them.
- Use tahong or mussels within two days of purchasing them.
You can store the mussels in the refrigerator. However, it should be cooked and consumed within two days. If you wish to store them longer than two days, make sure that the mussels still smell like the ocean. You must also take note that the mussels shouldn’t be slimy before you cook or consume them.
- Soak the mussels in salt and water mix for 15 minutes.
Combine 1/4 cup of salt with three cups of water. Mix evenly until the salt is diluted. Place the mussels in the mixture and leave soaked for 15 minutes.
- Move the mussels to a colander.
After 15 minutes, move the mussels from the mixture to a colander. Make sure to use a slotted spoon during this process. Allow the mussels to completely drain of water.
- Remove the beard from each mussel.
Pick each mussel and check for any appendages coming from them. Using your forefinger and thumb, grab the beard. Pull it gently toward the hinge of the mussel to discard it.
- Run cold water over the de-bearded mussels.
After removing the beards from the mussels, run water on them to get rid of any residues. Make sure to use cool to cold water in doing this step.
- Scrub each mussel to remove sand and grime.
Gently wipe each mussel using a scrub. This will allow the sand and dirt to come off easily. An entire batch of mussels shouldn’t take you long to clean.
- Make sure to discard any dead or damaged mussels.
Make sure to double-check if the mussels are still alive and fresh. If you notice any damaged or opened mussel, discard it.
- Dry the cleaned mussels before you cook them.
After cleaning the mussels, place them on a paper towel to dry. Pat them dry again before proceeding to cook them.
Ingredients for Baked Tahong With Cheese and Garlic Recipe
Here are the ingredients for baked tahong with cheese and garlic recipe:
- 1-kilo of mussels
- 1 thumb-sized ginger; chopped
- ½ tablespoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 3 tablespoons of bread crumbs
- 1 cup of evaporated milk
- 1 cup of shredded cheese
- pepper to taste
- spring onions for garnishing (optional)
How to Serve Baked Tahong
Mussels can be consumed for a light and tasty meal. You can also pair it with a piece of crusty or garlic bread. Doing so makes the meal even more perfect. Baked mussels can also be served over any pasta or even rice.
In addition, you can serve baked tahong as an appetizer. However, serving them alongside salads or crispy potato makes it more like a meal. You can also opt to pair them up and serve them with fish.
Here are some other dishes you could pair with baked mussels:
Dishes With Vegetables
- Frisée and Lardons
- Potato and Leek Soup
- Kalabasa Soup
- Tomato and Onion Salad
- Marble Potato Salad
- Pickled Mushrooms
- Shrimp and Tomatoes
- Fennel Salad
Starch Dishes
- Chicken Salad Bread Cone
- Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread
- French Fries
- Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
- Toasted Bread
- Linguine
- Gigante Beans
- Saffron Rice
- Squid Ink Pasta
Saucy Dishes
- White Wine Sauce
- Spicy Tomato Sauce
- Horseradish Cream
- Aioli
How to Make Baked Tahong Special
To make the staple version of this recipe more special, adding butter would be your best option. Moreover, the flavor of butter adds an impressive, nutty, and creamy flavor to the mussel. Its flavor wouldn’t be the same using any other substitutes.
The butter’s milk fat also creates a golden color. This envelopes the shellfish and turns the dish into a visual feast.
To make the dish even more unique, you can add lemon zest. This enhances the baked mussels dish’s acidity. To spice things up, you may also opt to add heat using chili flakes.
Baked Tahong With Cheese and Garlic Recipe
Course: Seafood
Cuisine: Filipino
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients of Baked Tahong
- 2 lbs. of mussels
- 1 head of garlic; crushed
- 1 tablespoon of minced parsley
- 3/4 cup of shredded quick melt or cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 4 cups of water
- 4 tablespoons of cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
- Heat the oil using a small pot. When the oil is hot enough, add the garlic. Cook in medium heat. Make sure to stir the garlic once in a while until it’s golden brown, then set aside.
- Cook the mussels by boiling them in a cooking pot.
- Cook the mussels for 1 minute or until the shells start to open. Drain the water and separate the mussels.
- Peel off the mussels, and leave only one side of the shell. Only leave the shell where the mussel meat is attached.
- Preheat the oven and set it to 350°F.
- Arrange the mussels on a baking tray. Make sure that the meat of the mussel is facing up.
- Place evenly the butter and cheese on top of each mussel.
- Put the mussels inside the oven and leave to cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, remove the mussels from the oven. Place the fried garlic on top of the mussels, and place the tray back into the oven. Leave to bake for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove the mussels from the oven and let to cool. Neatly arrange them on a serving plate. Top it with parsley.
- Serve, share, and enjoy while hot.
Baked Tahong with Cheese and Garlic
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. mussels
- 1 head Garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoon parsley minced
- 3/4 cup quick melt or cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup HICAPS Buttercream Prime
- 4 cups Water
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
Instructions
- Heat the oil using a small pot. When the oil is hot enough, add the garlic. Cook in medium heat. Make sure to stir the garlic once in a while until it’s golden brown, then set aside.4 tablespoons cooking oil, 1 head Garlic
- Cook the mussels by boiling them in a cooking pot.2 lbs. mussels, 4 cups Water
- Cook the mussels for 1 minute or until the shells start to open. Drain the water and separate the mussels.
- Peel off the mussels, and leave only one side of the shell. Only leave the shell where the mussel meat is attached.
- Preheat the oven and set it to 350°F.
- Arrange the mussels on a baking tray. Make sure that the meat of the mussel is facing up.
- Place evenly the butter and cheese on top of each mussel.1/4 cup HICAPS Buttercream Prime, 3/4 cup quick melt or cheddar cheese
- Put the mussels inside the oven and leave to cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, remove the mussels from the oven. Place the fried garlic on top of the mussels, and place the tray back into the oven. Leave to bake for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove the mussels from the oven and let to cool. Neatly arrange them on a serving plate. Top it with parsley.1 tablespoon parsley
- Serve, share, and enjoy while hot.
Notes
How to Make Baked Tahong: Cooking Tips
Here are some tips that come in handy when making baked mussels:
1. Know When to Purchase Mussels
During the wet season, mussels are very abundant. Previously, people believed that the rainy season would be the best time to harvest tahong or mussels. However, it’s not the case.
Presently, global warming contributed a lot to the changing seasons. Instead of harvesting shellfish seasonally, shellfish, in general, should be harvested at the appropriate time.
Particularly, mussels should be harvested when they have grown a certain size. This way, they will be plump and juicy enough to be consumed.
2. Clean and Prepare the Mussels Right
Once you purchase mussels, place them in an open bag and store them in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover them with a bag of ice covered with a damp cloth. This allows the mussels to breathe and remain fresh. Before cooking the mussels, they should be cleaned from any residues or dirt.
3. Steam the Mussels First Before Opening the Shell
In order to easily remove the shell, you should steam it first. Place the mussels in about an inch of simmering water in a pot. This will force open the mussels and make it easier for you to remove the shells.
You can also opt to shuck the mussels using an oyster knife. This helps prevent the meat from overcooking when baked. However, steaming the mussels would be highly suggested as it’s an easier process.
4. Remove Shells and Stuff the Mussels With Cheese
Once opened, discard half of the shell, and keep only the one where the meat is attached. Place the mussels on a baking sheet with the meat side up.
Top it with grated cheese. Adding a small amount of mayonnaise will also do. You can also top it with bread crumbs for a bit of crunch.
5. Watch Them Closely While Being Cooked
Make sure to not overbake. Most shellfish will shrink and toughen the longer they cook and mussels are no different.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Tahong
If properly stored, the cooked mussels can last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
The mussels can cook anywhere from 6 to 15 minutes, depending on the strength of the heat used.
Steaming the mussels could take 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the strength of the steam and the amount of liquid used.
Yes, mussels are safe to eat when prepared and cooked properly.
You can tell if the mussels had gone bad through their smell. If they smell sour and have a slimy texture, discard them.
Conclusion
Commonly, baked tahong or baked mussels serve as appetizers. However, thanks to people’s genius ideas, they can become the main course as well.
When served with rice, pasta, or bread, baked tahong becomes a healthy, fulfilling meal. Adding a few ingredients can also enhance the rich ocean taste in mussel meat. This makes the mussels even more delectable.
So what are you waiting for? Print or bookmark this baked tahong with cheese and garlic recipe and start cooking stat!
But wait! You can also try our Lechon Paksiw Recipe and Chopsuey Recipe. Check out our Top 20 Starch Dishes You Must Try and Top 20 Cereal Dishes You Shouldn’t Miss.
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