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TJ's Smoked Mussels on Garlic Butter Crostini with Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp

Crispy olive-oil-toasted crostini, spread hot with fresh garlic and garden-herb butter, then topped with Trader Joe's Lightly Smoked Mussels tossed in Lao Gan Ma chili crisp. Pap Steve's take on the viral TikTok mussels trend.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 crostini (one tin makes 6–10)
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American/Fusion
Calories: 167
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can Trader Joe's Lightly Smoked Mussels in extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 baguette or crusty bread sliced into crostini
  • olive oil for toasting
  • 3-4 Tbsp butter softened
  • 3-4 cloves garlic fresh, finely chopped (not roasted)
  • 1-2 generous spoonfuls Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp
  • 1 handful fresh parsley finely chopped, plus more to finish
  • 1 handful fresh Thai basil finely chopped, plus more to finish
  • lemon juice optional, to taste
  • 1 pinch salt

Method
 

  1. Brush or drizzle the bread slices lightly with olive oil. Toast in a 400F oven or a 375F air fryer, watching closely until golden and crispy. They can burn pretty quickly!
  2. Mix the softened butter with the garlic, a pinch of salt and a good handful of chopped parsley and Thai basil.
  3. Drain most of the oil from the can, keeping a little. Toss the mussels with 1-2 generous spoonfuls of Lao Gan Ma, plus a little extra parsley and basil, and lemon juice if using.
  4. As soon as the crostini come out, spread the garlic-herb butter on the hot bread. Top with the mussels and finish with more parsley and basil. Serve right away.

Notes

Yield: 6-10 crostini per can, depending on how high you pile them.
  • One can makes 6-10 crostini. Double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
  • The Thai basil is the key swap here. If you don't have it, regular basil or chives will do in a pinch.
  • Prefer the original? Swap the Lao Gan Ma for Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch.
  • Assemble right before serving so the toast stays crisp.
  • Great with slices of the no-knead 00 loaf or Same-Day Baguettes.
One tin makes 6–10 crostini, depending on how thick you slice the bread. Watch the toast closely at 400°F (oven) or 375°F (air fryer). It burns fast.