Skillet Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Sherry

Caramelized skillet brussels sprouts with bacon, shallots & sherry vinaigrette. Veggie side dishes don’t get more delicious than this!

I have a bunch of things tell you about: a delicious recipe, a great new cookbook, and why I love cooking dishes like this in my cast iron skillet. I’ll start with the recipe.  As I’ve said many times, I’m in awe of chefs that can make a vegetable into something crave-worthy. This recipe for skillet brussels sprouts does just that. The brussels are seared in a hot cast iron skillet with garlic, shallots, hickory-smoked bacon and fresh thyme – then dressed with a sweet and tangy sherry vinaigrette. The flavors meld so beautifully. It’s truly irresistible. The recipe is from the new cookbook Lodge Cast Iron Nation.  

Lodge Cast Iron Nation is about the joy of cooking great all-American recipes using cast iron cookware. Here are some of the recipes I can’t wait to try: Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes, Chile Verde Pork Stew, The Crispiest Chicken Thighs Ever, Roast Pork Loin with Maple-Bourbon-Mustard sauce, and Rhubarb Millet Crisp.  

Many of the recipes in the book are contributed by well known chefs and food writers. This brussels sprout recipe is from Kelly English, chef-owner of Restaurant Iris – recently named “best restaurant” in Memphis, Tennessee by Memphis Magazine. Chef English offers these as a starter on the menu at Iris.

As long as we’re celebrating cast iron cooking, I’ll tell you why I love my skillet. It started back when I was newly married and stocking my kitchen in my first home in Ridgefield, Connecticut. There were so many brands of pots and pans to choose from and a wide range of prices. It was very confusing! Plus I had read about the dangers of using teflon-coated pans and other non-stick pans, so I couldn’t figure out what to buy.  After lots of research I discovered cast iron. It was cheap compared to many of the other choices, and 100% healthy! No synthetic coatings to worry about leeching into your food. I purchased a Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet and I’m still using that same pan decades later. It’s naturally non-stick and it can be safely pre-heated to extremely high temperatures. It’s perfect for searing and browning meat…or brussels sprouts. I love my cast iron skillet so much that it’s even become the mascot for Panning The Globe.

PS – in case your wondering, I’m not paid by Lodge – just a true fan. I’ve become friendly with the folks at Lodge Cast Iron, who have generously partnered with me on several occasions by providing great cookware for me to give away to my blog followers.

Here’s the recipe for Skillet Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Sherry.

If you try this recipe I hope you’ll come back to leave a rating and a comment and let me know what you think!

SKILLET BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON & SHERRY

Crisp brussels sprouts seared with garlic, shallots and bacon – topped with tangy sherry vinaigrette

• Author: Panning The Globe
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Yield: 4-6
• Category: Salad, starter, side
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

• 2 pounds brussels sprouts, ends trimmed, cut in half through the stem
• 1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 1/4 pound of sliced bacon, cut crosswise – get hickory-smoked bacon if you can find it
• 1/2 cup minced shallots (2 large)
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 large cloves)
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Blanch the Brussels Bring a large pot of salty water to a boil. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water and set it aside. Add the brussels sprouts to the pot. When it returns to a boil set the timer for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, drain sprouts and shock them in ice water to stop them from cooking so they keep their crunch and their bright green color. Drain well and set aside.
2. Make the vinaigrette Whisk oil and vinegar in a small bowl until it’s thick and emulsified. Set aside.
3. Finish the dish Heat a large cast iron skillet (12-15″) over medium heat. Cook the bacon until it starts to crisp and the fat is released, about 3 minutes. Add the sprouts and turn the heat up to high. Using your spatula – turn as many sprouts as you can cut side down. Let them sear, undisturbed for 2 minutes. Add shallots, garlic and thyme to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently for 3- 4 minutes longer, until the shallots are translucent. Remove skillet from heat and pour vinaigrette over. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve as a salad, starter, or side.

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