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.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

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

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

Can you eat raw brussel sprouts in a salad? ›

Raw, uncooked Brussels sprouts are best when they're chopped or diced into small pieces. Try raw Brussels sprouts in some of these ways: Salad. Mix thinly sliced Brussels sprouts into a salad with leafy greens and other raw vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, and tomatoes.

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 do you soak brussel sprouts before cooking? ›

The soak time tenderizes the sprouts so the middles are softer. Don't worry, they won't be soggy! I would never do that to you. If, like me, you don't mind some chew to your sprouts, you don't need to soak the Brussels sprouts prior to cooking.

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.

What is the healthiest way to eat Brussels sprouts? ›

Roasting Brussels sprouts caramelizes their natural sugar and mellows out bitter notes, providing rich flavor and a crispier texture. Brussels sprouts are a good source of fiber and vitamins C and K, notes the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Is it okay to eat Brussels sprouts every day? ›

Is it OK to eat Brussels sprouts everyday? Go for it. “If you enjoy sprouts and can tolerate them, absolutely! They're lower in calories and contain a myriad of important nutrients” says Snyder.

What is one major side effect of eating Brussels sprouts? ›

Although a healthy vegetable, consuming too many Brussels sprouts can be unsuitable for people on anticoagulants since it contains vitamin K, which results in blood clotting. Another issue with consuming Brussels sprouts excessively is that it can lead to gas and bloating.

Do brussel sprouts cleanse the liver? ›

Brussel Sprouts

They stimulate detox enzymes found in the liver and may also be protective to cells. This enzyme action helps remove toxins from the blood and support the liver. Brussels sprouts also contain antioxidants that prevent cell damage.

Can too many brussel sprouts hurt your stomach? ›

You can prepare Brussels sprouts by sautéing them with garlic and olive oil or serving them with lean protein and whole grains. 3 Just keep in mind that Brussels sprouts are high in fiber, which can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and gas if you eat too many.

Do you need to cut the ends off Brussels sprouts? ›

Individual sprouts: Brussels sprouts sold by the pound are what you find most often at the market. They need to be trimmed of their dry ends and yellowed or damaged leaves before halving and cooking.

Is it better to steam or boil brussel sprouts? ›

Steaming Brussels sprouts preserves more of the nutrients and antioxidants than any other cooking method. And they turn out tasting like crisp-tender, sweet little nuggets. Plus they're just about the quickest veggie side dish you can cook.

What happens if you don't wash brussel sprouts? ›

It's important to wash Brussels sprouts before you eat them to get rid of dirt, bugs, pesticide residue, and bacteria. Luckily, it's easy to wash these delicious vegetables.

Is it okay to eat uncooked Brussels sprouts? ›

It's hard to beat the caramelized crispness of roasted Brussels sprouts (perhaps with a maple-Dijon glaze), but these little green guys can also be eaten raw. They're delicious when shaved in a salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, to start.

What sprouts should not be eaten raw? ›

Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts). Cook sprouts thoroughly to reduce the risk of illness. Cooking kills the harmful bacteria.

What vegetables can you not eat raw? ›

These are the 6 vegetables that should never be consumed raw
  • Potatoes. Uncooked potatoes not only taste bad but can also lead to digestive problems. ...
  • Cruciferous Vegetables. ...
  • Red Kidney Beans. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • French Beans.

How do you cut Brussels sprouts for salad? ›

You can do this with a chef's knife by cutting each sprout in half first (following the above directions), and then cross-cutting each half latitudinally into thin slivers. This will disconnect the slivers from the core, especially up towards the top of each sprout, helping them to separate into individual shavings.

References

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