I have spent a considerable amount of time as an adult trying to learn to love foods I never liked as a child. Surprisingly, I’ve had a fair amount of success and the number of foods I will not eat is VERY small. However, when it comes to brussel sprouts, I’m still working on it. I am now to the point where I do truly enjoy my first few (I suppose all that bacon helps), but then I just can’t eat any more.
However, my husband loves brussel sprouts. His family loves brussel sprouts. And I certainly wouldn’t mind having kids who also love brussel sprouts. So when we had some of my husband’s family over for a big dinner this weekend, I decided to give brussel sprouts a place on the table.
I decided to combine them with some red cabbage because I thought the colors would be pretty and the tastes would be complimentary. (It has absolutely nothing at all to do with the fact that I know I like cooked red cabbage, especially when there’s bacon involved.) The resulting side dish was a hit with everyone, kids included. And I even ate my fair share and really enjoyed it.
Brussel Sprouts & Red Cabbage with Bacon
- 1 lb. bacon, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 small head red cabbage, cut in half and thinly sliced
- 1 lb. brussel sprouts, quartered
- 1 1/2 t. salt, more or less to taste
- 1 t. black pepper
- 1/4 t. nutmeg
- 1/4 t. garlic powder
1. Place the bacon and diced onions in a large skillet and cook over medium high heat until it begins to brown and crisp. Add the sliced red cabbage and quartered brussel sprouts. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until bacon is crisp and veggies are cooked through. (The cabbage will wilt and the brussel sprouts will begin to caramelize on the cut sides.) Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and garlic powder. Serve and enjoy!
If you’re hesitant and unsure of brussel sprouts like me, I encourage you to give this recipe a shot anyhow. You just might surprise yourself. Trust me on this! If you’re already a fan of brussel sprouts, then I’m sure you can already tell just how good this will taste.
