Fennel and Mussel Fricassée with Saffron

This is a southern French classic, and very easy to make. There’s a bit of preparation involved, but it’s worth it. Fennel is the perfect fragrant autumn vegetable, and mussels are available in South Africa all year round. They complement each other perfectly in this hearty household dish. I like to serve it with sticky basmati rice, for the contrasting texture and to mop up the flavours of the sauce.