Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts
Now THIS is how to serve up Brussels Sprouts on Christmas Day. This delicious recipe features some special extras like chestnuts, bacon and parmesan for the ultimate festive side dish.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 750 g Brussels sprouts (unpeeled weight) Peeled and trimmed
- 200 g Diced smoked pancetta Or smoked bacon lardons
- 150 g Cooked chestnuts (the vacuum-packed type) Roughly chopped (optional)
- 50 g Parmesan cheese Grated (optional)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Plunge in the sprouts and cook for 5 minutes, then drain and transfer to a bowl of very cold water (don't skip this step - it stops them overcooking). Let them sit for 1 minute, then drain and set aside.
- Heat a large frying pan or saucepan over a high heat and fry the pancetta until crispy.
- Add the sprouts and chestnuts (if using) and fry for about 5 minutes until they are hot through and coated in the fat. Season with salt and pepper, and the Parmesan (if using).
To make ahead:
- The day before, cook and cool the sprouts to the end of step 1. Fry the pancetta until crispy. Put the cold sprouts and the frying pan with the cooked pancetta, covered, in the fridge. When you're ready to cook, put the frying pan on the hob over a high heat, until the oil that the pancetta released is very hot. Add the cold sprouts and the chestnuts (if using) and pan-fry for about 5 minutes until they are hot through and coated in oil. Top with Parmesan cheese (if using).
Notes
Dunk them in cold water: If you're making these ahead, plunging the sprouts into cold water after you’ve boiled them stops them cooking and becoming soggy. This way they stay nice and firm and crunchy for the following day
Make this vegetarian: Omit the bacon and Parmesan (or use alternatives), but bear in mind you’ll need to add 2tsp olive oil at step 2 to cook the chestnuts for 2-3 minutes, then add the sprouts for a further 5 minutes, as the fat from the bacon will be missing
Christmas Day recipes: Follow my No-Stress Christmas Dinner Plan for timings, tips and recipes
Nutrition
Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 13.4g | Protein: 13.8g | Fat: 10.1g | Saturated Fat: 4.1g | Sodium: 2070mg | Fiber: 5.6g | Sugar: 6.3g