Moules Provençale

• 48 mussels, approx. 3½–4 lbs (1.575–1.8 kg)

Check that all the mussels are closed. If any are open, tap the mussel on the work top; if it does not close within a few seconds, discard. (The rule with shellfish is always, ‘If in doubt, throw it out’.) Scrape off any barnacles from the mussel shells. Wash the mussels well in several changes of cold water. Then spread them in a single layer in a pan, cover with a folded tea-towel or a lid an