BROCCOLI WITH BALSAMIC-BACON VINAIGRETTE SAUCE

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Broccoli With Balsamic-Bacon Vinaigrette Sauce image

From Rob Kaspar in the Baltimore Sun, this is a really delicious treatment of broccoli. I think it's even better when almost all the bacon fat is drained off and discarded (just enough left to get the flavor) and with a bit less olive oil, but I am posting the original version.

Provided by Chef Kate

Categories     Pork

Time 20m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 small shallot, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (divided use)
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
1 1/4 lbs broccoli, tops cut into 1-inch florets, stems sliced 1/4 inch thick

Steps:

  • Make the sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally until crisp, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a dish lined with paper towels, leaving the fat in the pan.
  • Add the shallot to the bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes (if you want to reduce the fat, use a nonstick pan and discard all but a tiny bit of the bacon grease).
  • Add 1 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and scrape with a spoon to dissolve brown bits stuck to the pan.
  • Off the heat, stir in the remaining vinegar, the lemon juice and mustard.
  • Gradually whisk in the oil (don't worry if the sauce doesn't emulsify).
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cook the broccoli: Bring an inch or so of water to a boil in a pot fitted with a steamer insert. Put the broccoli in the steamer; sprinkle with salt, cover tightly and steam until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • The broccoli should be neither crisp nor soft, but exactly in between. To check, bite into a piece you quickly run under cold water, being careful not to burn your tongue. Transfer to a serving bowl.
  • Briefly reheat the sauce if necessary. Drizzle over the steamed broccoli, sprinkle with the bacon bits and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 129, Fat 10.5, SaturatedFat 2.1, Cholesterol 5.1, Sodium 96.9, Carbohydrate 7, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 1.7, Protein 3.6

There are no comments yet!