Brussels Sprouts (five recipes)














These are really good for you.

Recipe #1 
1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts 
3 tablespoons good olive oil 
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

Cut off the ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Transfer them to a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp outside and tender inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the Brussels sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt (I like these salty like French fries) and serve hot.

Recipe #2
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
4 cups whole Brussels sprouts 
8 slices molasses-cured shoulder bacon or regular bacon 
6 cloves garlic, chopped 

Fill a large saucepan with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook them for about 8 minutes. Remove the sprouts from the heat, drain, and then chill them in the refrigerator. Slice the sprouts in half when they have cooled. 
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until it is done. Discard all but 2 tablespoons bacon fat and grease from the pan, leaving the 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the garlic and cook for a few minutes over medium-low heat until fragrant. Add the sprouts and cook until heated through. Season the sprouts with kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste.

Recipe #3 
3 pounds medium Brussels sprouts 
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
8 thick slices bacon (about 8 ounces), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips 
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed 

Freshly ground black pepper 
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously. Trim the bottom end of the Brussels sprouts, leaving the core intact, and pull off the outer dark leaves. Halve through the core. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook, uncovered, until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water. (This can be done a day ahead.) 
Meanwhile, put the oil and bacon in a very large skillet or stewpot, and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the Brussels sprouts and cook, stirring occasionally, until they brown and the edges get crisp, about 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, salt, pepper, and bacon. Serve warm. 

Recipe #4

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

3 tablespoons olive oil 
1/2 pound sliced pancetta, diced 
4 shallots, thinly sliced 
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved 
8 baby Yukon gold potatoes, quartered 
Salt and freshly ground pepper 
2 tablespoons unsalted butter 
1 lemon, juiced 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 

Heat oil over medium heat in a roasting pan or large skillet. Add the pancetta and cook until golden brown and crisp. Remove the pancetta to a plate lined with paper towels. Add the shallots to the pan and cook until soft. Add the Brussels sprouts and potatoes and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper and roast in the oven until the vegetables are cooked through and golden brown. Remove the vegetables from the oven and stir in the butter and lemon juice. Transfer to a platter and top with the reserved pancetta.

Recipe #5
Fried Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts and Capers

Canola oil, for deep-frying
1 clove garlic, minced
4 salt-packed anchovy fillets, rinsed, filleted and minced
1 serrano chile, seeded and minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced on the bias
1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered lengthwise
2 cups loosely packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons salt-packed capers, rinsed and patted dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Pour enough oil into a medium pot so that the oil comes 3 inches up the sides. Heat the oil to 350 degrees.

While the oil is heating, whisk together the garlic, anchovies, serrano, red wine vinegar, honey, scallions, walnuts and extra-virgin olive oil in a bowl large enough to toss all of the Brussels sprouts. Keep the bowl near the stovetop.

Working in batches, deep-fry the Brussels sprouts until the edges begin to curl and brown, about 3 minutes. To the last batch, add the parsley and capers (stand back-the capers will pop and sputter!). Give the contents of the pot a stir. When the color of the parsley becomes a deeper, more saturated shade of green, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, remove the contents of the pot with a skimmer and place directly in the bowl of dressing. Toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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