PAN FRIED WHOLE BRUSSELS SPROUTS

I think I speak for a lot of food bloggers when I say we get a lot of inspiration from dining out in restaurants.  When I eat something I absolutely love I always try to make it a habit to re-create something similar at home for all of you to enjoy!  Sometimes it’s trying to figure out the cooking method the chefs at the restaurant used, other times I’m trying to make it Whole30 or paleo for you.  A few weeks ago, I went up to San Francisco with a friend and we both agreed that we had some of the best brussels sprouts ever.  They were soft on the inside and crispy on the outside and completely whole!  We talked about how they couldn’t have just been roasted whole like this because of how the center was.  So I made it my mission to come as close as I could to these brussels sprouts.  So without further ado, I’d like to present to you these Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts. Obviously with bacon too, because BACON!

One of the questions that kept going through my mind, was how the heck they got WHOLE brussels sprouts to be soft in the center and then perfectly crispy on the outside.  I knew to achieve the soft center they had to be steamed or boiled, but wasn’t quite sure on if they roasted them in the oven, broiled them, or pan fried them.  Obviously, from the title, you know which one turned out the best.  PAN FRIED!!!

I love that these are eaten whole.  It’s way more satisfying haha. And bonus, it cuts the time out of cutting them which is always fantastic! On top of eating the entire thing, I’ve added a lemon thyme aioli and of course bacon.  I’m dead.  This is so good.  I ate it 2 days in a row.  Like not leftovers, but actually made a new batch to shovel into my pie hole!

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Pan Fried Whole Brussels Sprouts

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 lb whole brussels sprouts
• 4 pieces of bacon, chopped
• 1/2 pot filled with water
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
• OPTIONAL: fresh grated parmesan cheese
LEMON THYME AIOLI:
• 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tsp dried thyme

Instructions

1. Heat up your pot of water. Once boiling add in your whole brussels sprouts and cover. Let boil for 10 minutes.
2. While brussels sprouts are boiling cook up you bacon slices in a skillet. Once cooked set on paper towel lined plate. Do not remove bacon grease from skillet.
3. Take your brussels sprouts and place them in the hot bacon greased skillet. Let cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and let the other side get crispy. Repeat until all sides of the brussels are super super crispy and golden brown.
4. To make aioli, simply combine all ingredients together.
5. When brussels are finished, add in your bacon pieces and toss to combine.
6. Drizzle lemon thyme aioli over the top and optional parmesan cheese
7. Enjoy warm

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I know that you guys will legit be obsessed with these like we are.  If you add the optional fresh grated parmesan cheese it will take it up like 10 more notches.  It’s fantastic.  Don’t worry, they are still great without the cheese!  If you leave the cheese out too, they become totally Whole30!

Let me know in the comments what you think of these?  Are you a fan of the softer center and the super crispy outside, or would you rather just halve them and roast ’em up?

Whole30: yes

Paleo: yes