THE BEST BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PANCETTA, FENNEL AND BASIL

THE BEST BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PANCETTA, FENNEL AND BASIL image

Categories Vegetable Side Sauté Christmas Thanksgiving Christmas Eve

Yield ??? ???

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

large bunch of brussels sprouts
handful of diced pancetta or diced thick cut bacon
1/4-1/2 cup thin sliced fennel
glob of olive oil
2 cloves garlic
splash of balsamic vinegar
salt and fresh cracked pepper
one knob of butter
splash of heavy cream
touch of brown sugar
grip of rough chopped basil
squeeze of fresh lime juice
sprinkle of fresh grated parmesan cheese
sprinkle of orange zest
1 frying pan or cast iron skillet

Steps:

1. Rinse off the brussels sprouts, remove the loose outer leaves and chop off the hard stem at the base. Cut them in half lengthwise through the stem. If they are large, cut them in quarters. 2. Heat pan on medium-high and add the pancetta (or bacon). Cook until crispy and remove to drain on a paper towel. Leave fat in pan 3. Smash the garlic cloves and add to the pan. Add 1 or 2 small glugs of olive oil to the pancetta/bacon fat. You want enough oil to coat the sprouts but not drown them. Add oil accordingly. 4. Add the garlic, sauté until golden and discard. (This is only to flavor the oil. If you let them blacken, oil will taste burnt and bitter. (Flavoring the oil with garlic is recommended but not needed) 5. Add the sprouts and the sliced fennel, season with a pinch of salt and cracked pepper and toss to coat with the oil. Arrange them flat side down in a single layer on the pan and let cook for 3-5 minutes, until the flat part of the sprouts begin to char. Reduce heat to medium. (If you skip this step, outsides of the sprouts will char and the insides will remain raw). 6. Add the splash of balsamic vinegar to the pan and toss until the sprouts are evenly coated. 7. Add the knob of butter and melt in. Besides being delicious, the butter also acts as a lubricant so the sprouts will cook evenly without burning. 8. When there is a nice char and the sprouts are al dente (stick a fork in it), add the small glug of heavy cream, chili flakes, orange zest, brown sugar, the chopped basil and the crispy pancetta. Sautee while lightly stirring until cream is reduced and basil is wilted. Toss to coat - 2-3 min. 9. Splash with s sprinkling of fresh lime juice, a few turns of fresh craked pepper and a healthy dusting of fresh grated parmesan cheese. Now TASTE! and add more salt accordingly. 10. Gently stir and serve immediately.