Mussels Marinera Style (Mejillones a la Marinera)

There are many ways to cook mussels. We often  cook them in green sauce and this is another typical way that tapas bars have on their menus: "marinera style," made with a sofrito.

Ingredientes:

1 onion finely chopped
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
1/4 green pepper finely chopped 
4 ripe tomatoes peeled and cut in quarters
1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
1/2 bay leaf (optional)
a pinch of salt 
a pinch of sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound mussels
1 cup water
salt

In a pan on low heat place the onion, garlic, green pepper, and pepper flakes. Cook until the onions are translucent, then add the tomatoes and bay leaf and and keep cooking on low heat until everything is done. Remove the bay leaf and purée to make a sauce.
To cook the mussels, put water and salt in a pan and when the water starts boiling add the mussels and cover with a lid. When they open, remove the mussels from the pan, add some of the boiling liquid to the sauce, spoon the mussels to  platter and top them with the sauce.