Portaferry & Strangford
A trail for water lovers and foodies alike!
Resting on either side of Strangford Lough, these two towns mark the entrance to the lough, known locally as ‘the Narrows’. Both Portaferry and Strangford are home to small fishing boats that fish for lobster, crab and langoustine, using pots. The strong tidal currents in the lough can be difficult for sailors and fishermen to navigate, but they create a unique habitat for wildlife, and the perfect conditions to farm oysters and mussels.
Strangford Lough is home to small-scale mussel farming, where mussels are cultivated on ropes. Farmed mussels are a really sustainable choice of shellfish, and they’re super easy to cook - expect a delicious flavour, meaty texture and a ‘pop’ of saltiness.
Mussels with Tomato Linguine
- 1.5kg mussels, cleaned
- 500g linguine
- 500g linguine
- 2 lemons, zest and juice
- 45g flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 6 large tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 red chillies, finely chopped
- 200g parmesan, grated
- Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Add the olive oil to a large pot on medium heat.
- Add the garlic and chilli and cook for 1-2 minutes until softened.
- Next, add the lemon zest and juice to the pot and mix to combine.
- Increase the heat to high before adding the mussels. Place the lid on top and cook for 3-6 minutes, or until the mussels have opened. Discard any mussels that remain closed.
- Reduce the heat a little before adding the chopped tomatoes. Mix through with the mussels and cook for a few minutes before adding the cooked pasta, chopped parsley and Parmesan (save a little for garnish).
- Serve immediately with a sprinkling of Parmesan to finish.
Download the leaflet
You can download an offline version of this trail map and play fun activities around the area!
Click the banner on the right to open the leaflet in a new window and download.
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