"Mussels, pork & fennel snags and potato chips. It’s about time we recognised mussels are an everyday, everyman meal!" - Matt Preston Recipe note: "You’ll need a large stockpot. If you can’t find fennel or it’s too expensive, just add another 1 tsp fennel seeds. I don’t debeard my mussels as I hate having my beard pulled while I am alive! I’m sure the mussels feel the same. And I can always remove any beards far more easily once they are cooked." - Matt Preston

Joel Bennetts, of Sydney's Fish Shop and Fsh Mkt, shares a recipe for mussels that's big on flavour and comfort, and low on effort.

A light, spring dinner. Crusty bread for mopping is essential.

"This dish brings back wonderful memories of when I visited Phú Quoc island for the first time many years ago, while travelling through the country. The mussels were so plump and fresh, and the sweet basil lightly tossed through paired perfectly with them." - Luke Nguyen This recipe is by Luke Nguyen

Don't throw away that loaf of bread, make this instead! This recipe combines seafood, vegetables and sourdough, big yes.

Fresh mussels are turned up a notch with this fiery habañero sauce.

“Many places along the coast of Normandy and the Somme are famous for their rope-grown mussels (moules de bouchot). This mussel dish includes the cream, butter and cider typically used in the area along with chicken stock and a few bacon lardons for good measure” - Rick Stein. This is an edited extract from Rick Stein’s Secret France by Rick Stein with photography by James Murphy (BBC Books, $49.99).

Fresh mussels are loaded with herbs and citrus.

These gourmet mussels are best served with a generous serving of crusty bread.

Set and forget! This dish spends 45-50 minutes in the oven but it’s super-quick to prepare.

With this Italian dish, the mussels are the main event, with a little pasta to soak up the broth.

Enjoy the evocative flavours of the sea with this mussel dish, serving 4 as a starter.

With very little stirring required, this simple spiced mussel pilaf is a great midweek meal.

Sweet potatoes give this hearty mussels dish a hint of sweetness.