Ingredients

• 2 lb mussels (preferably cultivated), cleaned and beards removed
• 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Spread mussels in a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. Blend all remaining ingredients to a paste in a food processor. Spoon mixture over mussels. Cover tightly with foil and bake in middle of oven until all mussels are open, 12 to 15 minutes. (Discard any unopened mussels.)