Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

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A simple seven-ingredient salad packed with flavor.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

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Updated April 03, 2023

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Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Lightly crushed hazelnuts and honey act as an emulsifier, creating a creamy vinaigrette that holds together.
  • Rendered bacon fat performs double duty, both as a cooking medium for Brussels sprouts leaves, and as an essential flavor in the vinaigrette.

Adri and I once had a wonderful meal atDirty Habit, my old chefDave Bazirgan's restaurant in San Francisco. As my first real chef, I credit him with a lot of things. Teaching me how to judge my own work (and start over if it's not good enough). Instructing me on therightway to make hollandaise by hand (I've sincestarted using the hand blender). Giving me the tools to be able to tell the difference between good and bad ingredients (and when it's okay to use the latter). Giving me my first taste of a truly excellent warm spinach and bacon salad.

It was this latter—something he threw together for our back-of-the-house family meal one day to prove to the rest of the kitchen staff that it didn't have to just be a random stew of odds and ends—that inspired this dish, a super-simple salad of warm Brussels sprouts leaves in a vinaigrette made from warm bacon fat, shallots, hazelnuts, honey, and sherry vinegar with just a touch of extra-virgin olive oil.

I have to say, it actually works a great deal better than the spinach-based original. Brussels sprouts and bacon fat were born to be together, and hazelnuts are a classic pair with both. The honey in the dressing makes it just sweet enough to temper the bite of sherry vinegar and help it pair up with the bacon fat.

To get the best texture out of the sprouts, I like to peel off as many layers of whole leaves as possible. This gives the dressing, hazelnuts, and bacon bits something to cup into.

Once I get down to the very central core of each sprout, I slice it thin so that it cooks in just about the same time as the whole leaves.

Once I've rendered out the bacon fat and added it to the dressing, I use the remaining fat in the pan to very rapidly sauté the Brussels sprouts leaves. I find that you get the best combination of nutty, lightly charred flavor with crisp texture by adding the leaves in a single layer once the bacon fat starts lightly smoking, then letting it sit to char on the first side for about a minute before rapidly sautéing.

The great part about this particular vinaigrette is that because of the high proportion of emulsifiers (both honey and the small particles created by pounding the hazelnuts help the bacon fat and vinegar get along nicely), you don't even have to take the typicalslowly-drizzle-while-whisking-constantlyapproach to forming the vinaigrette. You can just dump all the ingredients together and whisk it until it emulsifies naturally.

The end result, with its sweet, crunchy-tender greens, shallots, and bacon is very reminiscent of a classic Frenchfrisée aux lardonssalad (yet another dish that Baz taught me to make for the first time).

Come to think of it, whydon'tI take it all the way and put apoached egg on here?

These are the kinds of questions that keep me awake at night.

October 2014

Recipe Details

Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Active30 mins

Total30 mins

Serves2 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces Brussels sprouts

  • 3/4 cup hazelnuts

  • 1 small shallot, finely minced (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 3 ounces bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Trim off bottoms of Brussels sprouts and separate leaves that are released. Transfer leaves to a large bowl. Continue trimming off the bottom and removing released leaves until only the very central core remains.

    Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (3)

  2. Thinly slice the central core and transfer to bowl with the released leaves. Discard trimmed bottoms.

    Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (4)

  3. Pound hazelnuts in a mortar and pestle or under a small skillet until coarsely crushed and then transfer to a medium bowl. Add shallots, honey, vinegar, and olive oil and set aside.

    Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (5)

  4. Spread bacon in a medium cast iron or non-stick skillet and place over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until completely crisp and fat has rendered, about 4 minutes total. Using a slotted spoon, Transfer bacon to a small bowl. Pour two tablespoons bacon fat into bowl with hazelnut mixture and whisk to combine. Season hazelnut mixture to taste with salt and pepper.

    Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (6)

  5. Return skillet with remaining bacon fat to high heat and heat until lightly smoking. Add Brussels sprouts, spread in an even layer, season with salt and pepper, and cook without moving for 1 minute. Stir and continue cooking, shaking and stirring constantly, until leaves are bright green and just starting to turn tender, about 1 minute longer. Transfer to a large bowl. Add bacon and dressing and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

    Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (7)

Special Equipment

Mortar and pestle

  • Quick Salads
  • Hazelnuts
  • Bacon
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Thanksgiving Appetizers
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
663Calories
52g Fat
31g Carbs
26g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories663
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 52g66%
Saturated Fat 8g42%
Cholesterol 42mg14%
Sodium 861mg37%
Total Carbohydrate 31g11%
Dietary Fiber 9g33%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 26g
Vitamin C 108mg541%
Calcium 128mg10%
Iron 5mg26%
Potassium 1147mg24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Warm Brussels Sprout Salad With Bacon and Hazelnut Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you pre soak brussel sprouts? ›

It turns out that giving Brussels sprouts a good soak can help them to cook evenly throughout. Not only will the sprouts have a better texture after being soaked, but you won't have to choose between burning the outside and undercooking the inside.

Why do you soak brussel sprouts in salt water? ›

For best results, soak your Brussels sprouts in salt water. Not only does salt act to tenderize the dense sprouts, but it will also help to season them all the way through. It won't take a lot -- just add 1 tablespoon of salt per 1 quart of water and toss in trimmed and halved Brussels sprouts.

Can you reheat brussel sprouts? ›

To make these Brussels Sprouts ahead, slightly undercook them the day before—they should still be a little crunchy and slightly raw looking in the very center. Reheat (which will finish the cooking) just before serving in a large skillet on the stove or in a buttered, covered baking dish in the oven.

What is the difference between green and purple brussel sprouts? ›

Purple sprouts are a little sweeter, slightly nuttier and less pungent than their green counterparts with an earthy flavor.

How long should brussel sprouts soak? ›

Contributed by Whole Foods Market, Inc. To prepare, soak Brussels sprouts in a bowl of cold, salted water for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F.

Can you soak sprouts for too long? ›

As a rule 2-3 TIMES AS MUCH water (as seeds) is enough, but you can not use too much - the seeds will only absorb what they can regardless of what they have access too. But don't short them or they won't sprout well. You can not use too much water, but you can soak for too long.

What gives brussel sprouts a better taste? ›

About 30 years ago, a Dutch scientist identified the chemicals that made brussels sprouts bitter. He selected seed varieties with lower levels of the bitter chemicals and bred new high-yielding varieties that tasted less bitter.

How long do I boil Brussels sprouts? ›

Method. Tip the brussels sprouts into a pan and add a couple of cm water and a pinch of salt – a large pan works better so they're not piled up too high. Cover and bring the water to the boil, turn down to a simmer and cook with the lid on for 3- 5 mins depending on size.

How do you keep brussel sprouts warm? ›

Serve roasted Brussels sprouts hot or at least warm. Out of the oven, they will keep warm and yummy for up to 30 or even 45 minutes if you cover them and set them in a warm place.

How do you reheat brussel sprouts with bacon? ›

You can reheat the sprouts either in a large saucepan of boiling water for a minute or so, in a microwave or in a large wok or frying pan with a little butter and a splash of water, but make sure that they are properly heated through.

How many brussel sprouts per person? ›

A ½ cup of Brussels sprouts is a good source of Vitamin K (137% RDI) and Vitamin C (81% RDI) Kids, Ages 5-12 Teens and Adults, Ages 13 and up Males 2½-5 cups per day 42 - 6½ cups per day Females 2½-5 cups per day 3½-5 cups per day *If you are active, eat the higher number of cups per day.

Do brussel sprouts taste good reheated? ›

Yes! If you'd like to keep them crispy, reheat the brussels sprouts in the oven until they are heated through. Otherwise, you can reheat them in the microwave for a few minutes, however, they may lose their crispiness.

When not to use brussel sprouts? ›

If any of the leaves have brown spots or are yellowing, it's a sign of early spoilage. If you remove the blemished leaves and the interior looks OK, you can still use the sprout. However, if the interior leaves are also showing blemishes or yellowing, it's best to toss it (or compost it, if you can).

When should I not eat brussel sprouts? ›

Things You Should Know

Throw out fresh brussel sprouts that have a foul odor, yellow or wilted leaves, a mushy or slimy texture, or dark spots. Use fresh brussel sprouts within 1–2 weeks of getting them. Store the brussel sprouts in a plastic bag inside your fridge, and wash them before cooking them.

Which is healthier broccoli or brussel sprouts? ›

While broccoli may have a higher count of calories, fat, and carbs, it is richer in calcium, iron, and pantothenic acid (a B vitamin that does wonders for healthy hair), and has a bit more potassium. Brussels sprouts, on the other hand, are lower in sodium.

Is it OK to leave brussel sprouts in water overnight? ›

Cook the sprouts in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes, then drain and dunk them into very cold water. Drain again and store in the fridge overnight. Fry up some bacon lardons or pancetta until crispy, then add some chestnuts.

Why won't my brussel sprouts get crispy? ›

If you want your roasted Brussels sprouts to be seriously crispy, you need to crank up the heat. Roasting at a low temperature won't allow them to brown properly, so you want to get that oven nice and hot before tossing in your baking sheet. Follow this tip: Roast Brussels sprouts at a minimum of 400°F.

References

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