Bacon makes everything better, including cruciferous veggies—like in this Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onions recipe. Fiber- and antioxidant-rich Brussels sprouts are fork-tender and dance in the pot with sweet onions and crisp bacon. Herbs and lemon juice add a pop of freshness that balances out the salty bacon. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to trim the Brussels Sprouts.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
- To prep your Brussels sprouts, start by trimming a thin slice from the stem end of each sprout, but don’t cut off the stem completely. Keeping the stem intact helps keep the Brussels sprout in one piece while cooking. Discard any brown or yellow leaves.
- You can make this dish vegetarian by using Vegan Bacon, smoked almonds or nuts for a vegetarian version of the dish.
- To reduce the bitterness of Brussels sprouts, make sure to shop for the freshest ones at the grocery store. They should be bright green in color and firm to the touch. Smaller Brussels sprouts are often milder and sweeter in flavor than larger ones. To improve the flavor, it’s important to not overcook them. When boiling the Brussels sprouts in Step 1, you want to cook them until barely tender. They will continue to cook when you’re sautéeing them. Adding lemon juice at the end gives the Brussels sprouts some brightness and acidity to balance out the flavors of the dish.
Nutrition Notes
- One of several cruciferous vegetables, Brussels sprouts are loaded with nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium. Thanks to the nutrients and antioxidants in Brussels sprouts, regularly eating them may help reduce inflammation and lower your risk of chronic disease and conditions, including cancer, high blood pressure and cognitive decline.
- While you may not appreciate the tear-producing qualities of onions, you will most likely appreciate their health benefits. Thanks to the antioxidant, quercetin, onions have been linked to reduced inflammation and a lower risk of heart disease. Their sulfur compounds—some of which also cause watery eyes—have been shown to help regulate blood sugar.
Recipe adapted from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters.