BRAISED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND HARD APPLE CIDER

BRAISED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND HARD APPLE CIDER image

Yield 3-4 people

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 strips bacon, cut crosswise into ½" strips
2 Tbsp. butter
1 ½ lbs. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 large shallots, roughly chopped
1 cup hard apple cider
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high. Add bacon and cook, stirring here and there, until brown and crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour all but 1 Tbsp. bacon fat into a heat-proof jar and reserve for another use. Add butter to skillet. When the butter has melted, add the sprouts. Cook for about 5 minutes, gently shaking the skillet from time to time. Stir in the shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the cider, honey, salt and pepper, gently mix, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the sprouts are tender and the liquid has almost evaporated, 5-7 minutes. If the sprouts need more cooking time, add more cider. Toss with bacon and serve immediately.