Black Bean Mussels with Chinese Beer

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
• 1 Fresno chile, seeded (if desired) and chopped
• 2 heaping tablespoons fermented, salted black beans, washed and crushed
• Splash Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry, optional

• 2 pounds mussels, washed and de-bearded
• 2 cups Chinese beer
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 3 spring onions, chopped, whites separated and greens reserved for garnish
• Handful fresh cilantro stems and leaves, roughly chopped, for garnish