The Unexpectedly Fancy Shellfish You Can Get At Dollar Tree

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A delicious shellfish dinner can be a delight, and yet possibly the best part is getting the ingredients for a bargain. If you're always looking to shave a few dollars off your dinner bill, you'll be happy to hear that you can find surprisingly fancy ingredients in some of the most unexpected places, including discount stores like Dollar Tree. One such ingredient is a can of ready-to-eat smoked mussels from Polar.

Though things can vary from store to store, Polar's smoked mussels are typically sold as individual three-ounce cans. They're wood-smoked, packaged in cottonseed oil, and have a delicious smoky wood flavor that greatly complements the natural flavors of the mussels. Dollar Tree is notorious for its affordable food and goods, and considering that these same mussels cost $44 for a pack of 24 cans on Amazon, averaging out to $1.80 each (not counting shipping and taxes), you certainly stand to save with the brick-and-mortar discount giant (though the package size may be smaller than average).

Remember, though, that pricing and availability will vary by region. Your local Dollar Tree may not have these mussels at all and, even if it does, you might not enjoy the same savings as other areas. Dollar Tree's famous $1.25 cost for everything is sadly a thing of the past (as is its bygone dollar price tag), so while a can of mussels still won't be the most expensive thing you can find there, your final cost might be higher than you expect going in.

Canned mussels are a versatile ingredient that can go into a wide variety of recipes or be enjoyed on their own. One great way to prepare them is in a classic Spanish seafood paella. Recipes will vary, but they all essentially involve cooking rice with broth and your choice of veggies and proteins all in the same pan. Adding Polar mussels to paella couldn't be simpler; just make your favorite paella recipe or find one online that looks tasty and use them when it comes time to add the proteins.

Another delicious and incredibly easy option for your Polar mussels is to craft up a seafood Alfredo. One of the best parts about this dish is that Dollar Tree offers up some good grocery options, meaning you might be able to buy most or even all of the ingredients you need there. Boil some pasta, cook the mussels and your choice of other seafood (check the frozen section for ingredients like shrimp and scallops), and top with your choice of Alfredo sauce.

Polar mussels are also good by themselves and with simple sides. Moules frites, for example, is a classic Belgian dish of mussels with French fries and mayonnaise that makes a satisfying simple meal, while mussels on toast is a great light dish that puts a tasty seafood spin on your breakfast.