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4.20 from 5 votes

Pan Fried Brussels Spouts with Bacon and Onions

Pan fried brussels sprouts are caramelized with bacon and red onion with crispy bits on the edges then tossed with crunchy candied pumpkin seeds and served with an easy pomegranate gastrique. 
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Canadian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 182kcal
Author Julie & Debbie

Ingredients

BRUSSEL SPROUTS

  • 4 cups brussels sprouts washed and cut in half
  • 5 strips thick cut bacon sliced
  • 1/2 large red onion diced
  • salt and pepper

POMEGRANATE GASTRIQUE (OPTIONAL)

CANDIED PUMPKIN SEEDS (optional)

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp chipotle powder
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 cup salted pumpkin seeds

Instructions

MAKE THE GASTRIQUE

  • Cook the water and sugar till sugar dissolves, add the vinegar, then add the juice and simmer till it decides and thickens so the mixture coats the spoon. 
    The mixture will thicken more as it cools

MAKE THE CANDIED PUMPKIN SEEDS

  • Heat a frying pan to medium heat.  Add the pumpkin seeds and toast them in the pan for a min or so and then slide them onto a plate.  Add the sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, chipotle powder and water to the pan.  Cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture gets all bubbly.  Throw in the pumpkin seeds and cook for another three mins.  Pour onto parchment paper to cool and then break them apart and set aside. 

MAKE THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS

  • Heat a large frying pan to medium-low heat.  Add the chopped bacon and cook till the fat renders and the bacon starts to get nice and crispy. You might need to turn up the heat to medium.   This will take at least 5 mins.  Scoop the bacon out and place on paper towel to wait.  Make sure you have about 2 or 3 tablespoons of bacon fat left in the pan.  You can get rid of the rest. 
  • On medium heat, add the onions to the pan and saute for a min or so.  Add the brussels sprouts and saute till they get cooked through and nice and browned on some parts.  You may have to turn up the heat a tiny bit to get some nice color.  
  • Add the bacon and give it a quick stir.  Season the dish with salt and pepper at this point.   Then pour into a serving dish.  Sprinkle with a generous amount of the candied pumpkin seeds.  Serve with the pomegranate gastrique.

Notes

You can either drizzle the sprouts with the pomegranate gastrique or just serve on the side so people can help themselves.   Or if you are nicely plating your dinner, place a dollop on the plate and smear it along the plate with the back of a spoon then place the brussel sprouts on top but so you can still see the gastrique.  Either way, its delicious! 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 163mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 37.5mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1.4mg