Although they may look like cute dollhouse-sized cabbages, Brussels sprouts have an earthy, mildly bitter taste that tends to be rather divisive: you either love them or you hate them. But what if I told you there's a way to make Brussels sprouts delicious no matter which side of the fence you stand on?
The key to turning Brussels sprouts into a sweet and flavorful vegetable with loads of umami is to caramelize them. Normally, if you roast them whole (or even quartered), your caramelization is limited to the outer few leaves, which means the entire center of the head retains its characteristic bitterness. By shredding the Brussels sprouts you greatly increase the surface area, allowing to you to caramelize every bit of the diminutive cabbage.
To balance the sweetness of the shredded Brussels sprouts, I like to brown a bit of pancetta in the pan before sauteeing the sprouts. If you want to make this vegan, just leave it out and double the amount of olive oil. You can add some pine nuts or pecans at the end for some extra protein if you like.
To season these, I love using a bit of pomegranate molasses. It's a thick maroon syrup made by reducing pomegranate juice and has a sweet/tangy taste with a marvelously floral aroma. It brings out all the best parts of Brussels sprouts while smoothing over the rough spots. The natural sugars in pomegranate molasses also aid in the caramelization of the shredded sprouts. You can find pomegranate molasses in the ethnic aisle of some supermarkets, or you should be able to find it in a Middle Eastern grocery store.
When the shredded Brussels sprouts are finished they're a golden caramel hue with a pleasant sweetness juxtaposed by the tartness of the pomegranates and saltiness of the pancetta. It makes this an addictive side that's the perfect compliment to a Thanksgiving dinner.
This recipe first appeared on norecipes.com but due to its age I've moved it here to my personal recipe archive. Check out the full No Recipes Archives for more older recipes, or check out some of my favorite recipes.
Units
Ingredients
- 500 grams Brussels sprouts
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 85 grams pancetta
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
Instructions
- Remove the tough outer leaves of the 500 grams Brussels sprouts, halve them and then slice the halves into thin slices.
- Add the 2 teaspoons olive oil and 85 grams pancetta to a frying pan and fry over medium-high heat until the pancetta has released some oil.
- Add the shredded Brussels sprouts, ½ teaspoon caraway seeds and ¼ teaspoon salt and sauté until the shredded sprouts start to brown.
- Add the 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses and continue sautéing until there is no liquid left.
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