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

  • Quick Salads
  • Hazelnuts
  • Bacon
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Thanksgiving Appetizers

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

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

How to reheat Brussels 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.

Should you pre soak brussel sprouts? ›

Don't soak sprouts before cooking them, they don't need it. Rinse before cooking, and if you want to store them ready-prepped but them in a reusable bag or container in the fridge.

What does brussel sprout salad do for you? ›

Eating a lot of Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous veggies may help protect against cancers of the stomach, lungs, kidney, breast, bladder, and prostate. Crunchy veggies like Brussels sprouts may also help you stave off other health issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.

How to warm up cooked Brussels sprouts? ›

It's as simple as spreading the leftover Brussels sprouts in a single layer on a baking sheet (use two to avoid overcrowding if there's a lot) and heating them in a 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. When the sprouts come out of the oven they'll be hot and crispy all over.

Do brussel sprouts taste good reheated? ›

Like their cruciferous vegetable counterparts Sauteed Cabbage and Roasted Broccoli, roasted Brussels sprouts are healthy; they contain fiber and nutrients like vitamin C. Great Leftover. Any leftovers you don't immediately demolish can be gently reheated the next day in the oven.

What gives Brussels sprouts a better taste? ›

In the late 1990s scientists identified specific chemicals, called glucosinolates, that made Brussels sprouts taste bitter. Plant breeders started growing old seeds, previously discarded for producing paltry harvests, to identify tastier versions with lower levels of these compounds.

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).

Why put crosses on brussel sprouts? ›

In fact, the tradition of cutting a cross in the base of a sprout might have less to do with culinary technique and more to do with superstition. In Medieval times, it was believed that evil spirits and demons lived between the leaves of the vegetable, and they would enter anyone who ate them, making them ill.

How many Brussels sprouts per person? ›

Sprouts on the stalk will stay fresher longer than sprouts that have been picked off and sold loose. Plan on about 1/2 pound (8 ounces) of raw brussels sprouts per person.

Do you wash Brussels sprouts before or after you cut them? ›

Fresh vegetables can pick up bacteria from the soil, water, or any surface they come in contact with (especially during transportation). It's important to properly wash your brussels sprouts before eating them to keep you or your loved ones from getting sick. Wash them with regular cold water or use a baking soda soak.

What to eat with Brussels sprouts? ›

When we think about which meats go with Brussels sprouts, bacon usually comes to mind first. Upgrade that to prosciutto, add poultry and fish to the list, and leave room on the menu for steak.

What organ is brussel sprouts good for? ›

May support heart health

Brussels sprouts are especially rich in a plant compound, called kaempferol. This antioxidant has been studied for its many health-promoting properties, including the benefits it has for heart health.

Can you eat raw Brussels sprouts in a salad? ›

We love Brussels sprouts in so many dishes, whether roasted or fried. But there's some exciting preparations that don't necessarily involve cooking at all. Raw Brussels sprouts can be a delicious addition to so many salads and slaws, and they couldn't be easier to enjoy.

How do you reheat bacon and keep it crispy? ›

Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 400ºF. While it's heating up, lay your bacon out in a single layer on a baking sheet. After the oven is preheated, pop the sheet into the oven for about five minutes. Once you hear your bacon begin to sizzle, it's time to enjoy!

How to make crispy bacon reheated? ›

Line a baking sheet or oven-safe dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place the leftover bacon in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet or dish. Reheat the bacon in the oven for 5-10 minutes until it's warmed through and crispy.

How do you reheat Brussels sprouts without it smelling? ›

"I love to reheat them with butter in a big skillet and some bread crumbs," she says. "Then throw in your sprouts, and toss them around to reheat them, and then serve."

Can you eat cooked Brussels sprouts the next day? ›

Cooked brussel sprouts should typically be eaten within 2-3 days once cooked. Overcooked brussel sprouts will release a sulfurous smell, especially when boiled.

References

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