BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BACON SALAD

Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Salad image

This is a friend's recipe and after making it last night, I can't wait to share it and put it into the usual dinner rotation. A very flavorful dish that pleased the whole "family" of roommates!

Provided by Carey Wilson

Time 40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 cups bread cubes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pound Brussels sprouts
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 slices bacon
4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread in an even layer onto one of the prepared baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until crunchy, 15 to 20 minutes.
While the croutons are baking, cut bottoms off Brussels sprouts and discard. Cut Brussels sprouts in half, then slice each half into shreds. Toss shredded Brussels sprouts in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the second prepared baking sheet.
Remove croutons from the oven. Place Brussels sprouts in the oven and roast until wilted, 10 to 15 minutes.
While Brussels sprouts are roasting, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve 1 tablespoon bacon grease in the skillet. Crumble bacon when cool enough to handle.
Remove Brussels sprouts from the oven and immediately transfer to the skillet with the bacon grease. Add croutons, blue cheese, and red wine vinegar and toss to coat.
To serve, distribute salad into 4 serving bowls and top with crunchy bacon.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288.6 calories, Carbohydrate 20 g, Cholesterol 14.3 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 4.8 g, Protein 9.7 g, SaturatedFat 4.7 g, Sodium 432.8 mg, Sugar 3.3 g