Oh BS!! As in Brussel Sprout?

My first encounter with Brussels Sprout was two years ago when I visited my friends in Minneapolis, MN. It was love at first bite! I love the texture and the favor of this little green small cabbage look-alike vegetable. They are cute, extremely easy to make, great side dish and cheap! (Especially when you buy them frozen!) Most important of all, when you cook the Brussels Sprout with crispy bacon and garlic, who can resist this deliciousness!?

Brussels sprout indeed has a very unique taste and not everyone likes them, just like other vegetables such as beets and okra, but if you cook them right, you may fall in love with them just like me. These little fellas are also rich in vitamin C! Do you know they contain almost 50% more vitamin C than an orange!? And if you eat 4-6 sprouts a day, you basically get all your vitamin C you need for the day! I also need to mention that nutritionists have proved that Brussels sprouts contain nitrogen compound called indoles and can help to fight against cancer. For individuals who are watching their weight, 4 of the sprouts only have 33 calories which is awesome!

Brussels sprouts can be prepared in so many ways! One of my favorite ways to cook them, as I mentioned earlier, is with crispy bacon and garlic. To bring the sweetest out of these little guys, I sometimes drizzle balsamic reduction on top before serving them.

This is a very easy recipe! And I cut down my cooking time by using frozen Brussels sprouts (>$2 for a bag).

Brussels Sprouts in bacon garlic oil with Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients:

1 bag of Frozen Brussels Sprouts
2 - 3 gloves of minced garlic
1/4 Cup of Water
3 slices of bacon, chopped in small piece
Salt & Pepper to taste
1/2 cup of Balsamic Vinegar
Optional: A dash of Red Pepper Flakes

Microwave Brussel Sprouts with 1/4 cup of water on High for 3 - 4 minutes. Do not overcook them. They should be still a little cold but not icy. Drain them and pat them dry with paper towel. Meanwhile, cook bacon in frying pan in medium heat until turning brown or crispy (don't burn them).

Bring 1/2 Cup of Balsamic Vinegar to boil and reduce heat to low and simmer it down for 4 minutes or until it gets thicken, similar consistency a syrup. Set aside.

After putting the Vinegar into the pot, Put sprouts into pan and toss them with the bacon and grease immediately. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste and/or red pepper flakes for a little heat. Cook for 10 minutes or until they turn golden brown.

Drizzle Balsamic Reduction onto the sprouts. (If reduction got too thick and won't drizzle, reheat in low heat for 1 minute and stir, once it turns back to liquid, drizzle immediately).

I hope you will enjoy this recipe! Happy First Bite!