BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PEANUT VINAIGRETTE

Brussels Sprouts With Peanut Vinaigrette image

This recipe came to The Times from Karen Van Guilder Little, an owner of Josephine, a restaurant in Nashville, along with her husband, the chef Andrew Little. These succulent brussels sprouts are served there and at her Thanksgiving table every year. "I started playing around with peanut butter - it's rich and salty like bacon - and it just clicked," Mr. Little said.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories dinner, lunch, side dish

Time 50m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

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Ingredients

2 pounds brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved and rinsed in cold water
1/4 cup peanut oil
Salt
4 teaspoons champagne vinegar
2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened peanut butter, creamy or chunky
Hot sauce or chile oil (optional)
1 large navel orange
3 tablespoons dried tart cherries or cranberries, plumped in warm water, drained and coarsely chopped
Crispy fried shallots, for garnish (optional)
Chopped fresh mint, for garnish (optional)

Steps:

Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a pan of hot water in the bottom, to help prevent the sprouts from becoming tough. Turn on convection if you have it.
Toss sprouts with peanut oil, sprinkle with salt, and spread out on one or two baking sheets. Roast 15 minutes. Stir and continue cooking 10 to 20 minutes more, until browned and crisp. Check sprouts every 5 minutes or so; if they are browning too fast, reduce heat by 25 degrees and turn off convection.
Meanwhile, make the dressing: In a bowl, whisk together vinegar and honey. Whisk in peanut butter until thick and creamy. Add water until consistency is like creamy salad dressing. Season to taste with hot sauce, if using.
When sprouts are tender and browned, remove from oven, transfer to a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Add half the dressing and toss well.
Take orange and cut a thick slice off the bottom and the top to make flat surfaces. Rest bottom on a cutting board and use a small, sharp knife to carve off all the peel and pith, cutting from top to bottom and following the curve of the fruit. When all the orange flesh is exposed, cut out each segment by slicing along the white membranes. Gently loosen from the orange and set aside.
Add half the orange and half the cherries to bowl and toss. Taste. Adjust with more dressing, orange and cherries until flavors are balanced. Serve warm or at room temperature, topped with fried shallots or fresh mint, or both, if using.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 120, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 12 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 286 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams