1 kg cockles
120g butter
1 leek, finely chopped
400 ml dry cider
1 sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
200 ml double cream
Salt
Black pepper
Chives to serve
Melt 40g butter in a pan. Put leeks and sweat for 2 minutes. Add 300ml of cider, thyme, bay leaf. Reduce the cider by about 1/3. Add cream and cockles, cover and cook. Raise the heat and cook for 3 – 4 minutes, shaking the pan.
Once open poor over a colander and collect the juices. Place the juices in the pan and reduce. Add the rest of the cider and bring to the boil. Add the rest of the butter and mix. Season with salt and pepper.
Place mussels in plate and poor juice over. Top with chives.