Tortang Tahong made of mussels, tomatoes, and fluffy eggs is a simple dish that’s hearty and tasty. This seafood omelet is delicious served with steamed rice and your favorite dipping sauce.
Mussels are one of my favorite seafood, so I am always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy them. I have a few delicious recipes with this shellfish as the star ingredient, such as crispy tahong, cheesy baked mussels, and mussels cooked a la gambas, and I am excited to add this omelet to the list.
This tortang tahong is a smorgasbord of mussel meat, shallots, spring onions, and tomatoes flavored with oyster sauce and then enveloped in fluffy eggs. I had a sizable wedge of it paired with steamed rice and banana ketchup dipping sauce for lunch, and oh, yum! It’s such a simple dish to make but tasty and filling.
This torta is an easy meal you can pull together in minutes. I use already cooked, shucked mussels from Asian supermarkets, which makes the whole prep quicker and easier. If you’re using fresh shell-on mussels, check out the steps below.
How to Clean and Cook Mussels?
Soak the mussels for about 20 minutes in a bowl of cold water to remove any dirt or sand. Drain well.
Under cold, running water, scrub the shells with a kitchen brush and scrape off any hard filaments with a paring knife.
Remove the beard or byssus by pulling down toward the hinge of the shell and outward. For any opened mussels, gently your finger and wait for it to close; if the shell doesn’t close after tapping, throw it away.
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the mussels and cover.
Lower heat to medium and cook, occasionally stirring, for about 3 to 6 minutes or until the mussels open wide. Remove the mussels from the pot with a slotted spoon and discard any unopened shells.
Using a fork or a paring knife, gently pry the mussel meat from the shell and use it in the recipe as directed.
Serving suggestions
The omelet is delicious with rice, of course, but I’ve been known to stuff it between warm loaves of pandesal or sliced bread with a generous slathering of mayo. It sounds like a weird combination but worth a try.
Storage and reheating instructions
Store in an airtight container with paper towel lining to absorb moisture. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheat, loosely covered, in a microwave on high 1 to 1 ½ minutes or until hot.
