De-beard the mussels and scrub the shells well. Discard any open mussels. Drain and place the mussels in a bowl and drape a damp towel or paper towel over the top. Refrigerate.
Melt the butter over med heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the shallot and cook for 2-3 mins until it begins to soften. Add the garlic, ginger and saute for 2-3 more mins.