These mussel soup recipes are an interesting change from the usual clam chowder and lobster bisque. Light and brothy, these aromatic soups are a delightful taste of the sea, from a variety of cuisines around the world.
Mussels are a kind of mollusk that come in different varieties like green lip mussels, blue mussels, and black mussels.
It also has a slightly sweet flavor and an earthy mushroom finish, making them a perfect addition to dishes like paella, pasta, or soup.
If you love firmer seafood, these shells give you a better texture than scallops, and they are chewy and still tender when cooked properly.
So if you’re wondering how to cook mussel soups, here are 11 recipes to try.
The Italian recipe is a go-to for all with its tomato-based broth, and the simple #4 Filipino recipe is something you can make when you’re craving something light.
But come fall season, don’t miss #10, the butternut squash mussel soup!

You’ll love everything about this Italian Tomato-Based Soup because it’s vibrant with sweet tomatoes.
Serve this with crunchy bread and season with herbs, and you’re good to go.
You can also spice this soup up by adding some pepper flakes and adjust according to your desired spiciness.
Mussels are naturally briny but rinsing will help get rid of sand that tends to ride along.
Also, the trick to making this recipe perfect is to choose the best Italian pureed tomatoes for that sweet and zingy taste.
You’ll also need some fresh fennels, carrots, garlic, celery, and other ingredients to enhance the flavors of the mussels and tomatoes.
If you can’t get enough of just one main meat in your soup, try this mussel soup with prosciutto, or you may also opt for other types of ham.
Once you put everything in a large pot and simmer the tomatoes, you can add the prosciutto for that extra salty flavor and a fragrant outcome.
Another ingredient that kicks this recipe up a notch is turmeric, which is common in many curry recipes.
However, this recipe won’t taste like curried mussels with turmeric.
The turmeric only gives it a slightly peppery and earthy spice that will elevate the “ocean” flavor of the seafood.
If you’re looking for something heavy and creamy during your weeknight dinners with the family, this cream of mussel soup won’t disappoint.
The heavy, half-and-half cream will give it that rich and fatty soup base that comforts everyone.
Aside from the cream, you’ll also include chicken broth mixed with clam juice to make it more flavorful.
Clam juice is already very briny, so some good stuff goes a long way.
You must bring the base to a boil and simmer while adding in the mussels.
Then you’ll have to blend all cooking liquid in batches until all the juices are incorporated.
4. Filipino Ginger Mussel Soup (Tinolang Tahong)
A gorgeous emerald from the spinach, this ginger-forward broth is teeming with big green mussels, but you can use whatever mussels are available.
This dish is called “tinola,” a term used to describe cooking any meat in soup boiled with aromatics like ginger, onions, scallions, and tomatoes.
Typically, you use chicken for this kind of soup in the Philippines.
However, this ginger-based soup also uses this kind of mollusks because it creates a unique and pleasant briny taste that goes well with other simple ingredients in this recipe.
This is also easy to make and budget-friendly because you only need a few ingredients like garlic, ginger, scallions, salt, and pepper.
This soup is a popular “bar food” in Korea, which locals slurp with their soju and is considered a good chaser for the famous rice wine.
This dish is simple yet refreshingly good to serve, especially if you’re in a hurry and want a soup appetizer for your weekday meals.
The most vital ingredient in this recipe that makes it stand out is the Korean chili pepper that gives it that right kick.
(It also says you can use jalapeño, which is good because unless you have an Asian market, it might be hard to find whole Korean chili peppers.)
You’ll only need the usual condiments like garlic, garlic, spring onions, onions, and salt.
Once you’ve enjoyed this soup and still have some left, you can even throw away the other ingredients or noodles (if you put some) and use the base soup for your spicy shin ramen!
If you want a bit of flair and spice in your mussel soups, don’t miss this Spicy Mussel Soup that you can whip up fast.
The marriage of spicy and briny flavors goes well as the mild salty taste cuts through the spiciness of this dish.
Also, the mussels soak up the flavors nicely, and the texture lets you enjoy the spiciness without overpowering it.
The spices you’ll need from this recipe are cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and bouillon powder.
To make this spicy soup, ensure that you debeard the shells properly, put them in a pot, throw in the aromatics, and stir for a couple of minutes until your kitchen smells like a fresh catch!
Serve in a bowl, and don’t forget to garnish with parsley for that appetizing presentation!
Nothing beats a good mussel chowder along with an artisan bread like sourdough.
You can serve this dish as an appetizer or a complete meal if you like something filling and flavorful that can power you up the entire day.
This recipe is simple, with only a handful of ingredients like garlic, onions, butter, red pepper, spring onions, and cooking liquid.
But what makes this soup extra tasty is the added bacon that elevates the saltiness from the shell.
The bacon offers fatty goodness that the mussels will soak up.
Moreover, this dish is filling because of the milk, potatoes, and flour for a thick and rich consistency.
Want more chowder? Here’s my Seafood Chowder recipe with a sipping broth.
If you’re a fan of curry, you’ll undeniably love this Thai Curry Mussel Soup that is bursting with myriad flavors.
For this recipe, you’ll use green or red Thai curry paste for that unique and floral taste.
The brightness of the curry-based soup will dominate this dish yet give the mussels a moment to shine once the mild salty taste hits your palate.
The full-cream coconut milk gives this soup an earthy taste and creamy texture.
You can add vermicelli noodles to make this soup the main course!
Don’t forget that cilantro for garnish to enjoy that soapy, citrusy, and fresh kick at the end!
This Kombu & Mussel Soup will fill the bill if you want to be transported to Japan.
Not only is it light and refreshing with the hot comfort it gives you any day, but it also reminds you of the ocean because it has all the goodness from the salty kombu and mussels!
Kombu is an edible kelp that is widely popular in East Asia, which offers a mushroom-like taste and adds an umami flavor to your soup.
You’ll also mix the soup base with sake, and it completes the dish, which will remind you of the cold cherry blossom season!
The process is also extremely easy, with only three steps.
You can start by pouring stock into a pot and putting the kombu in until you bring it to a boil.
After simmering for three minutes, pour the sake and mussels, and add salt and pepper!
Here’s something you can have for Thanksgiving or the winter season!
This soup, which relies on butternut squash, is a rich and hearty dish that is perfect as an appetizer or light supper.
Although butternut squash tastes a lot like sweet potatoes, there are different ingredients infused in this dish.
You get the earthy taste from the cilantro, the floral and citrus taste of the white wine, the sweet flavor of saffron, the woody taste of cinnamon, and the zesty kick of the lemon, and the fatty goodness of the heavy cream.
With all these ingredients infused into the sweet butternut squash, you’ll never want any other Thanksgiving soup again!
Here’s a unique way of cooking your mussels with white wine broth.
White wine pairs exceptionally well with mussels because of the combination of citrusy, floral, and briny flavors.
This recipe calls for your oven, and you’ll only put everything in the Dutch oven and stir occasionally.
But you can start with a pan on the stovetop, add in the thyme, wine, and bay leaves and reduce the broth.
Finish in the oven for 15 minutes.
Although the consistency is a saucy liquid, you can reduce it even further.
The bottom line
These mussel soups are perfect for your hearty and rich soup on a stressful day.
You get all the incredible and natural flavors of the ocean without overpowering the other ingredients.
Try one of these recipes, and you’ll appreciate this seafood even more!

Mussel Soups: A Taste Of The Sea
These mussel soup recipes are an interesting change from the usual clam chowder and lobster bisque. Light and brothy, these aromatic soups are a delightful taste of the sea, from a variety of cuisines around the world.
Ingredients
- Italian Tomato-Based Soup
- Mussel Soup With Prosciutto
- Cream Of Mussel Soup
- Filipino Ginger Mussel Soup
- Korean Mussel Soup
- Spicy Mussel Soup
- Mussel Chowder
- Thai Curry Mussel Soup
- Kombu & Mussel Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Oven Steamed Mussels With Garlic White Wine
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of Mussel Soups.
- Choose the soup you want to recreate.
- Start cooking your newly found recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook page!