Sprouts without Doubts

Every time my husband and I pass the produce section in the grocery store I invariably ask if we can make Brussels sprouts.  And he invariably answers with a less-than-enthusiastic ‘ehhh’.  Being the Brussels sprout lover that I am, I finally decided to just buy some and see what I could do with it to make it appealing to a non-fan.

Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto and Parmesan

I used my food processor to shred my sprouts but you could do it the old fashioned way with a knife and cutting board without too much effort.  If you can’t find prosciutto you can easily substitute with pancetta or simple bacon.  Also, since the meat is fairly salty there is no need to season this dish with more salt.  This recipe makes about 3 cups.

• 1 pound whole Brussels sprouts
• 2-3 ounces prosciutto (I used 3 ounces for the sake of my husband, but I thought it was a bit too much), chopped into small pieces
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Trim your Brussels Sprouts by cutting the stem off each sprout and removing any wayward or discolored outer leaves.  Coarsely shred the sprouts in your food processor in batches, or chop them by hand with a large, sharp knife.

Place the shredded sprouts and chopped prosciutto on a baking sheet (lined with tin foil if you prefer), drizzle with the olive oil, and season to taste with black pepper.  Toss to evenly coat, then spread evenly on the baking sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes, remove to stir, and bake again for another 5 minutes.  Stir again, add the green onions and parmesan cheese, and place back in the oven for a final 3 minutes.  Serve hot.

My husband dug right in to these Brussels Sprouts before realizing which vegetable he was eating.  And the verdict?  Success!  They are crunchy and salty with a hint of cheese and make a an easy, healthy side dish for any meal.  Note to self: adding pork products to just about anything will make my husband happy.  Enjoy…

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