BACON SAUTÉD BRUSSELS SPROUTS
(HUNGARIAN STYLE)
Szalonás Párolt Kelbimbó
Brussels
Sprouts don't just look like tiny little cabbages, they are! And adorable at that! But sadly, most children grew up already having a pre- concieved notion that they HATE Brussels Sprouts, along with broccolli and most other members of the cabbage family. Guaranteed, when
they grow up to be adults, they will learn that cruciferous
[krew-SIH-fer-uhs] vegetables have high amounts of anti-oxidants.
Specifically, they contain indole-3-carbidol (I3C).
This element changes the way estrogen is metabolized and may prevent estrogen
driven cancers. This alone would give them a reason to at least try it.
Healthy benefits aside, seriously, once you try this recipe, your children (and husband) will BEG you to make more. Every time I bring this dish to family functions of church gatherings, I have people lining up asking for the recipe!
Chef's Hint: Brussells Sprouts are
sold
loose by the pound. You want to look for the biggest round sprouts with
plenty of dark green outer leaves. Buy it at the farmer's market or the
grocery store - matters not. You will find quality!
I heard a Hungarian gent at a family bbq chatter away incessantly about how bacon fat contains fibre AND that it was actually a vegetable. Everyone around him howled. (present company included). I don't know if he was serious, or trying to get everyone engaged in lively banter. Either way, " I" would buy both stories. I would even go as far as adding it on the Canada's Food Guide as a Food Group on it's own!
INGREDIENTS
1 pound brussels sprouts
8 strips of bacon
1 tbsp bacon fat
2 tbsp butter
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Cut the cores from the sprouts and discard. Gently peel
off the leaves, reserving them and discard or thinly slice the tight, innermost
heads. (Save them for stock)
Heat a large sauté
pan and fry the bacon until crisp; remove to a paper towel to drain. Pour all
but a tablespoon of fat from the pan. Add the butter, to melt. Toss the leaves
in and sauté until tender, 10-15 minutes. Keep
tossing gently to cover each petal with the fat. Season with salt and
pepper then crumble the bacon and cascade it all over the soft
green petals.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve piping hot and crumble more bacon as desired.
CHEF’S HELEN'S HINT:
Take a little time to peel off each leaf individually. I like to cut away at the core as I go. You will get mounds and mounds of leafy
green petals. Watch a soap opera and peel away.
Other
suggestions: Trim the ends, peel off any dark green leaves from each
sprout, and roast, steam, or sauté them. Or, keep it simple and just
slice them into a salad.
With our great cookbook, Helen's Hungarian Heritage Recipes TM © 2005 we
wish to serve one purpose: to bring the flavours of Hungary nearer to
your hearts and also give you a glimpse into Hungarian life and acquaint
you with our
wonderful hospitable country.
Let Clara M. Czegeny and renowned Chef Ilona Szabo (Helen I. Czegeny) share the secrets of Hungarian Cooking that will make you fall in love with Hungary food one delicious recipe at a time.
Clara and daughter Evangeline (Graphic artist for book)
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