Sometimes, it's fine to just roast some vegetables to have with dinner, but other times, you want to take it up a notch. This recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta & Pecans is exactly what you're looking for! And what makes it better is that although it's a notch above just roasting, it's still very easy to make.
Prepare the Brussels sprouts
Trim the ends and remove any dirty or blemished leaves from the outside. Depending on the size of the sprouts, you can cut them in half or in quarters. Most of the ones I bought were quite large so I cut them in quarters. What's important to me is that they are easy to eat ... a comfortable bite size.
Toss them with some olive or avocado oil, season them with salt and pepper, then put them on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Roast them for about 20 minutes at 450°F. You want to see some nice browning and charring!
What is pancetta?
Pancetta is an Italian seasoned, salt-cured meat made from pork belly. It's similar to bacon, but it's not smoked like bacon is. It's a really fresh alternative to bacon if you don't want the smoky flavor so much. I got about a quarter of a pound sliced thinly, but I think a thicker, chunkier chop would also be fine. I prefer the thin slice so that it doesn't compete with the chopped pecans that we'll add at the end.
Chop the pancetta into small squares, let it render out some fat, then add thinly sliced shallots. Get them nice and crispy!
Look at those beautiful charred sprouts! Once they are roasted, mix them with the pancetta and shallots in a bowl.
Toast the pecans in the same skillet that you cooked the pancetta and shallots in, then sprinkle them on top of the Brussels sprouts. Feel free to experiment with other nuts, too ... I think hazelnuts would be so delicious!
How to serve Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta & Pecans
A nice vegetable dish like this can accompany just about any grilled, sauteed, or oven roasted meat: steaks, pork chops, roast chicken ... It's really delicious with all of it! I listed three great options below.
Recipe
Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Pecans
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ pound pancetta chopped (can use thick cut bacon)
- 1 shallots thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons pecans finely chopped
- salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Remove discolored leaves from Brussels sprouts, trim the ends, and cut in half or quarters depending on their size. Place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over them and toss to coat evenly. Season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 15-20 minutes until browned and somewhat charred. Remove from the oven.
- While the Brussels sprouts roast, heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and shallots and cook, stirring often, for 8-10 minutes, until browned and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove them to a plate.
- Add the pecans to the remaining oil, reduce the heat to low, and cook, for 2-3 minutes, until browned. Be sure to stir often.
- When the Brussels sprouts are done, transfer them to a serving bowl and add the pancetta and shallots. Sprinkle the pecans on top and serve immediately.
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