Pancetta Brussels Sprouts
Pancetta Brussels Sprouts is a simple side dish packed with flavor. The sauteed sprouts are sweet and tender which pairs well with the salty and crispy pancetta. Your family will love this and ask for it all the time.
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I have had a sordid past with Brussels sprouts.ย Why do they call them Brussels sprouts anyway?ย And do you capitalize the B in Brussels or is it just brussels?ย These are things I ponder as a food blogger.ย I mean, thereโs always Google but how reliable is that?
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According to Google, well, Wikipedia really, Brussels sprouts are popular in Brussels which is there their name may have come from.ย And even though theyโre more Mediterranean than European, they first appeared in the 5th century in Europe where they were cultivated.ย How did they get here?ย French settlers in the south brought them to Louisiana.ย Theyโre now grown mainly in California from June through January.
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Yeah, I bet you didnโt think youโd get a history lesson about sprouts today, didja?ย Well, I wanted to know and thought you might want to know, too.ย So, there ya have it!
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And did you know that they grow on a stalk?ย Like, put a stick in the ground and imagine those sprouts just growing off the sides of it.ย I canโt even think of something that grows like Brussels sprouts to be able to give an example.
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Anyway.ย Thereโs your sprouts lesson for the day.
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So, Iโve had a sordid past with Brussels sprouts.ย I know.ย I said at the beginning before I went down this rabbit hole of telling you all about sprouts.ย Growing up, I think we only had one kind; frozen.ย I donโt think we ever had fresh sprouts.ย I say this because they all tasted the same no matter when we ate them.ย My dad used to make this fake hollandaise sauce, so we would eat them.
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Fast forward many years later.ย I decided I would give them a try again, as an adult.ย Of course, I bought fresh ones this time.ย And those fresh sprouts were popped into the oven and roasted.ย Oh my word game changer.ย Seriously.ย If you havenโt had Brussels sprouts roasted, you really should.ย I even wrote a post about it.
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Ever since then, Iโve been incorporating them into recipes regularly.ย I added them into this kielbasa and sprouts hash.ย Then my favorite carbaronara recipe is this roasted Brussels sprouts carbonara.ย And theyโre added to this sheet pan pretzel chicken dinner as a side dish.
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So, as you can see, ever since I realized Brussels sprouts were more than boiled either fresh or frozen, Iโve been eating them and canโt get enough of them.ย Theyโre not little cabbages.ย They have a flavor all their own thatโs sweet when caramelized.ย Especially in this pancetta Brussels sprouts recipe!
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Then one day I thought, โI wonder if theyโre good sautรฉed.ย I mean, if theyโre different roasted, then why not sautรฉ them and see how they taste!โย Of course, I couldnโt just toss them in the pan without adding something as equally delicious into the pan.ย Enter the pancetta!
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Brussels sprouts are sweet when theyโre cooked.ย Yes, sweet with a little bitter on the back end, but theyโre sweet all the same.ย So, what goes great with sweet?ย A little salty!ย I was going to go for bacon, but I thought, โNah!ย This is Easter!ย Letโs kick it up a minute and add some pancetta!โ
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Oh yeah.ย I did.ย I added little cubes of that sweet and salty cured meat to this pan of sautรฉed pancetta Brussels sprouts.ย Actually, it was the other way around.ย I added the sprouts to the pancetta.ย You see, I tasted that pancetta in the pan before I added the Brussels sprouts.ย I wanted it to have a nice, crispy texture and release some if the flavorful renderings to the pan.ย I wanted those sprouts to sautรฉ in that pancetta goodness along with a little garlic olive oil making them taste amazing.
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You can see them glisten with that garlic flavored olive oil and pancetta flavoring.ย Then thereโs those little cubes of salty goodness in the background.ย Iโm really glad that sprouts have a long growing season.ย Because having them any other way but fresh just doesnโt do them justice.ย And Iโve tried with the frozen ones.ย Of course, theyโre still good cooked and smothered in my dadโs mock hollandaise.
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How do you like to cook your sprouts?ย Have you served them as a side dish for Easter?ย If youโre looking for other sides for your Easter table, make sure you see what the rest of the Festive Foodie bloggers are serving up.
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Pancetta Brussels Sprouts
Pancetta Brussels Sprouts is a simple side dish packed with flavor. The sauteed sprouts are sweet and tender which pairs well with the salty and crispy pancetta. Your family will love this and ask for it all the time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cubed pancetta
- 2 tablespoons garlic flavored olive oil
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, quartered
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Swirl the olive oil into the pan and add the pancetta.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta begins to brown slightly and begins to crisp.
- Stir in the Brussels sprouts and continue to sauté until the sprouts are fork tender.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 267Total Fat 23gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 14gCholesterol 26mgSodium 36mgCarbohydrates 9gFiber 3gSugar 2gProtein 7g
Make sure to check out all the awesome Holiday Side Dishes:
- 5 Ingredient Corn Casserole from Cheese Curd in Paradis
- Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad from Blogghetti
- Bacon Wrapped String Beans from Family Around the Table
- Pancetta Brussels Sprouts from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Cranberry, Apple, & Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf from Sweet Beginnings
- Creamy Potato and Apple Gratin from Palatable Pastime
- Disney’s Pumpkin Soup from Simply Inspired Meals
- Dudhi Kofta (Bottle Gourd Fritters) from Cook with Renu
- Orange Cranberry Sauce from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Porcini Pancetta Dressing from The Complete Savorist
- Pumpkin Rolls with Herbs and Sea Salt from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Apples, and Onions from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Roasted Carrots with Fresh Herbs from Our Good Life
- Skillet Sausage Stuffing from Dutch Oven Daddy
Pancetta takes Brussels sprouts to the next level.
Don’t they?
Brussels Sprouts with pancetta makes a great side dish.
They really do. And oh so simple.
So simple, yet so irresistible!!!
Of course!
Brussels Sprouts are my daughter, Nicole’s favorite so I’m always looking for new ways to prepare them when she comes for dinner. Thanks for sharing the recipe and for all your hard work this week Christie.
Thank you, Wendy! I hope she likes it.
We had great minds for this final day of Holiday Week Christie. I remembered this recipe when I decided to roast mine with apples and onions.
It’s funny you say that. I actually had another recipe I was going to post and forgot to unschedule this one. Heather just rolled with it!
Always wondered about the name. Thanks! We just had roasted Brussels last night. I will add pancetta next time.
Pancetta adds that little extra richness.
I could eat brussels sprouts every day and this is my fav way to prepare it. YUMMY
I could, too! Thank you!