- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 shallot, roughly chopped
- 1 sprig thyme
- 200g/7oz mussels, cleaned and de-bearded (discard any mussels with broken shells and any that refuse to close when tapped)
- 150ml/5fl oz white wine
- 25g/1oz butter
- 350g/12oz butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1cm/½in cubes
- 500ml/18fl oz vegetable stock
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil, plus 2 tbsp for drizzling
- ½ wholemeal sourdough bread, cut into 1cm/½in cubes
- 2 tbsp baby coriander cress
- 2 tbsp red amaranth cress
- For the soup, heat a large lidded saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Once hot, add the shallot, thyme and mussels and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cover with a lid. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until all mussels have opened. Discard any that do not open.
- Strain the mussels through a fine sieve keeping both the mussels and liquor. Remove half the mussels from their shells and leave the rest in their shells for serving.
- Heat a large saucepan and add the remaining oil and the butter. Once hot, add the butternut squash and cook for 2 minutes. Add the stock, shelled mussels and reserved cooking liquor and cook for 6-8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and place in a blender. Blend until smooth and place back in the saucepan. Season with salt and pepper.
- For the sourdough croûtons, heat a medium sauté pan and add the oil, once hot add the bread and cook until golden-brown. Drain on kitchen paper and season with salt and pepper.
- Ladle the soup into serving bowls and garnish with the croûtons, reserved mussels, cresses and a drizzle of oil.