Showing posts with label Bacon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bacon. Show all posts

Friday, September 21, 2012

Shaved Brussels Sprouts

There's something to be said for convenience. And safety :) We really like Brussels Sprouts and shredded is a nice change from roasting them whole. The thought of shaving those little round sprouts on a mandoline kind of scares me. Green cabbage is one thing. Teeny sprouts are another. When I was at Trader Joe's last week I saw bags and bags of Shaved Brussels Sprouts! Problem solved. I have all my fingers intact. I'm sure there's plenty to do with this, probably great as a slaw, in a salad. But all I did was saute it with some garlic, pancetta and toasted pine nuts. Excellent. I went back to Trader Joe's for more. And ended up with three full bags of other stuff, too. Yeah, I'm also one of those shoppers who buys new and improved, and all the cute junk by the register. An advertiser's dream :)




Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Pine Nuts 

1 1/2 pound Brussels sprouts (or 1 bag store-bought shaved)
1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
4 ounces pancetta, cut crosswise into thin strips (or tiny cubes, if you have thick pieces of pancetta)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
handful of pine nuts, toasted in a small dry skillet
1/2 -1 tablespoon butter (optional)

Carefully use a sharp knife or mandoline to thinly slice Brussels sprouts crosswise (or buy a bag that is already shaved.) Discard the root ends.

Add olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat; add pancetta and stir until slightly crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts, and cook, stirring often, until sprouts are bright green and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the toasted pine nuts. Stir in a little butter, if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.



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Friday, October 29, 2010

How Easy is That?

That's the question the Barefoot Contessa's new book asks!  It's rhetorical and I can't help but answer it! I just got my copy in the mail and really enjoyed it so far. Great recipes, beautiful pictures, hey, it's Ina Garten, so I'd expect nothing less! It delivers a ton of easy recipes, already bookmarked!   So the answer to "How Easy is That?" would be a resounding "VERY EASY!"





First recipe I tried was the Snap Peas with Pancetta! Just happen to have Pancetta in the freezer for just in case. Hey, you never know when you might need some Italian bacon!  You could use regular bacon, too, if you wanted. I loved it, and ending up serving it warm, but would be just as nice as a cold side! Even Miss Picky liked it! I made the peas ahead and although when I reheated it after shocking it, the green wasn't as bright, it was still so good! Would have been better if I remembered to sprinkle the Pecorino on. Can't remember everything. And I usually don't!





Snap Peas with Pancetta

1 tablespoon salt
1 pound sugar peas, trimmed
1/4 pound pancetta, diced
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced red onion
5 tablespoons freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper

My notes -- Instead of blanching you can also steam the snap peas in the microwave on high power for about 6 minutes, then drain in a colander and immerse in ice water. I also served it warm, so I heated it again in the microwave for about 2 minutes before I added the vinaigrette and bacon. If you make the peas in advance and reheat, it loses it's bright green color but still tastes delicious!

Bring 2-3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot and add 1 tablespoon salt. Fill a large bowl with ice water and have a colander ready in the sink. Put the snap peas into the boiling water for about 15 seconds, drain in the colander in the sink, and immediately put them in the bowl with the ice water. Cool completely and drain. Cut each snap pea in half lengthwise and place in bowl.

Place the pancetta and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium saute pan and cook over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until the pancetta is browned evenly and crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to cool.

To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice. Pour vinaigrette over the snap peas, add the red onion, pancetta, and Pecorino. Toss well and season with salt and pepper, to taste.



And I'll join Suzy from Kitchen Bouquet with an Ina Garten Flashback for Flashback Friday. If you haven't tried it, The Barefoot Contessa Guacamole Salad is a really big, big favorite here. Click here to see the post on Guacamole Salad!
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