Sautéed Brussels Sprouts w/ Bacon
Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
4 slices bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, depending on bacon fat)
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Prepare the Ingredients:
Trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts and remove any yellow or damaged outer leaves. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise.
Chop the bacon into small pieces.
Cook the Bacon:
In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it is crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
If there is an excess amount of bacon fat in the skillet, drain some of it, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan. If needed, add olive oil to make up the difference.
Cook the Brussels Sprouts:
Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the halved Brussels sprouts to the skillet, cut side down.
Cook for about 5-7 minutes without stirring, allowing the Brussels sprouts to caramelize on the cut side.
Once caramelized, stir the Brussels sprouts and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, until they are tender but still crisp.
Sauté the Onions and Garlic:
Add the chopped shallot to the skillet. Sauté over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add Brown Sugar and Bacon:
Sprinkle the brown sugar over the Brussels sprouts and stir well to coat evenly.
Add the cooked bacon back to the skillet and stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve:
Transfer the sautéed Brussels Sprouts to a serving dish and serve immediately.