Simple to make yet delicious to eat. Mussel fritters are popular here in New Zealand, perfect as an appetizer, snack or a great way to feed a crowd. Our recipe uses a classic fritter batter, along with a few additional ingredients to build great flavour. Enjoy!
If you love fish and seafood, this corn and mussel fritters recipe is a great year-round dish. We love whipping them up for an easy Friday dinner or on the weekend after sports. Serve with our horseradish mayo and a wedge of lemon for a extra hit of flavour.
Why you'll love these mussel fritters
Packed with flavour: These mussel fritters are bursting with the salty, savoury taste of mussels, and our recipe has a cheeky hint of curry powder and jalapenos for a delicious flavour twist. For another tasty seafood fritters recipe, our paua fritters are a must try!
Quick and easy: Whip them up in no time with simple ingredients - perfect for busy weeknights or a last-minute appetiser.
Versatile: Serve them as a starter, a snack, or even a light main meal. Just like our mushroom and asparagus tart, these mussel fritters are a hit no matter the occasion!
Crowd-pleaser: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside – these fritters will have everyone coming back for seconds. Fritters are great served as part of a shared platter. This recipe would work well with our popular sushi, spicy New Zealand mussels, mussels in a wine white cream sauce, vegetable rice paper rolls and our delicious smoked salmon dip.
A great way to use mussels: Mussels are packed with health benefits and this recipe is a great way to make them shine and get the whole family enjoying these tasty morsels.
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Ingredients and substitutions
This recipe for mussel fritters has classic batter ingredients:
- Milk
- Self raising flour
- Salt and pepper
- Egg
- Fresh mussels - we used beautiful green-lipped mussels as they are native here in New Zealand. But depending on what's available in your area, you could also use vacuum packed or frozen mussel. Just make sure you fully defrost frozen mussels in the fridge overnight prior to cooking them.
Additional flavour ingredients:
- Curry powder
- Spring onions/ scallions
- Jalapenos - you can adjust the heat to your preference.
- Sweetcorn kernels - if in season use fresh and cut the kernels of the cob. Or use frozen or canned just drain off extra liquid prior to adding to the batter. We used frozen as fresh sweetcorn is not in season right now.
- Salt and pepper
Plus a little oil and butter for cooking.
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Step by step instructions
Follow our 3 simple steps to making delicious mussel fritters:
- Prepare and steam the mussels - discard any mussels that don't open. Allow the open ones to cool then remove and chop the mussel meat.
- Make the batter - in a large bowl mix all the ingredients together, cover and allow to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Cook the fritters - Over a medium heat, add the butter and oil to your frypan and allow to melt and foam a litte. Add a dessert spoon of batter to the hot pan and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden brown.
Serve with our horseradish mayo and a wedge of lemon and enjoy!
How to prepare and cook mussels
To prepare fresh mussels:
First scrub then debeard them. (This is the part that looks like hair, simply pull it off)
To cook fresh mussels:
Cover a large pot with a lid and place on a high heat. Once the pot is hot, add the cleaned mussels along with a splash of water, cover and allow the mussels to steam open. Give any that haven't opened yet, another minute or two, to see if they open. Once ready, remove the mussels from the pot and allow to cool a little. Discard any unopened mussels.
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Chef tips
- Always give the batter time to rest and chill in the fridge.
- Get the pan nice and hot, and let the butter melt and foam a little, before adding the batter.
- Adjust batter consistency as needed—if it’s too thick, add a splash of milk; if too runny, add a touch more flour.
Storage and reheating
- Store leftover fritters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat in a skillet or oven to restore their crispiness—avoid microwaving to prevent sogginess.
- A note from the chef: Fritters are best enjoyed fresh and hot.
Serving suggestions
These mussel fritters are versatile and pair beautifully with a variety of sides and dips. Here are some other serving ideas to inspire you:
- Dipping sauces: Serve with garlic aioli, tartar sauce, sweet chilli sauce, or a zesty lemon yogurt dip for an extra burst of flavour.
- Fresh salad: Pair with a simple green salad, coleslaw, or a refreshing cucumber and tomato salad for a light and balanced meal.
- Bread or rolls: Serve alongside crusty bread, garlic bread, or soft dinner rolls to soak up every delicious bite.
- Potatoes: Add a side of crispy fries, roasted potatoes, or creamy mashed potatoes for a hearty meal. Try our smoked salmon potato salad for a delicious seafood pairing.
- Grains: Pair with a side of fluffy couscous, quinoa, or a warm grain salad for something a little different.
- Pickled vegetables: Serve with a side of pickled onions, cucumbers, or radishes to add a tangy contrast.
Perfect for any meal or occasion, these mussel fritters are sure to be a hit!
Variations
This recipe is super versatile and would work well with a variety of other seafood and proteins. You could switch the mussels for:
- Clams
- Prawns
- Cooked chicken,
- Feta
- Grated zucchini / courgette.
Just make the batter as per our recipe below and substitute the mussels.
Mussel fritters are a true delight, combining the fresh, salty flavour of mussels with a golden, crispy batter that’s impossible to resist. Whether you're whipping them up for a quick lunch, serving them as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or enjoying them as part of a seafood feast, this recipe delivers every time. Packed with flavour and easy to make, mussel fritters are the perfect way to bring a touch of the ocean to your table. Give this recipe a try and let it become a new favorite in your kitchen!
Did you try this dish? Please leave a rating and review below. And if you have any questions about the recipe, you can ask us in the comment section below too.
Happy cooking!
Recipe
Mussel Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 kg Fresh mussels scrubbed and debearded (See note 1)
- ¼ cup Milk
- ½ cup Self raising flour
- ½ teaspoon Curry powder
- Pinch of Salt and pepper
- 1 Egg
- 80 g Sweetcorn kernels Frozen
- 2 sticks Spring onions / scallions Finely sliced
- 20 g Jalapenos Fine chopped
- 2 tablespoon Canola oil
- 2 tablespoon Butter
Horseradish mayo (optional serving suggestions)
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Horseradish cream
- Lemon wedges To serve
Instructions
Prepare and steam the mussels
- Scrub and debeard the mussels. Take a large pot with a lid and place onto a high heat. Once the pot is hot, add the cleaned mussels along with a splash of water, cover and allow the mussels to steam open. Give any that dont open an extra minute or two, to see if they open. Once open, remove from pot and allow to cool. Discard any that don't open
- Remove the meat from the shell. Roughly chop the mussels.
For the batter
- In a large bowl, add the milk, flour, curry powder, salt and pepper and egg, whisk until smooth.
- Then add the (defrosted) sweet corn kernels, sliced spring onion, chopped jalapeno and chopped mussels and mix until well combined.
- Cover and place the batter in the fridge for 30 minutes.
To cook the mussel fritters
- Heat a large non-stick pan to a medium heat, add the canola oil and butter, allow the butter to melt and foam a little.
- Using a dessert spoon add a spoonful of the batter into the pan, keeping a gap between each spoonful of batter.
- Allow to cook on one side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes then flip to cook the other side until golden brown.
Horseradish mayo
- Mix the mayonnaise and horseradish cream well and set aside.
To serve
- Place the fritters on plate with horseradish mayo, a wedge of lemon and enjoy!
Leave your reviews, comments and questions below.