balsamic braised brussels with pancetta
It seems unfair to compare the two Brussels sprouts dishes I have made in the last couple weeks because they’re so different, about the only thing they have in common is the stand where I bought them. It’s like comparing apples and oranges, boiled lima beans and chocolate cake, the cuteness of my kid versus the cuteness of any other baby on earth… you know? One of the dishes is rich, salty-sweet and fork tender, the other is raw, slightly rubbery, acidic and at least according to a review on Epicurious that I probably should have taken more seriously, “was like eating a bowl of grass”. You’ll never guess which one we liked better.
Estimated Nutrition (whole recipe, rough)
Counts 12 of 13 ingredients — the other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and contribute nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume — 12 portions →
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 100g cooked | 165 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Bread | 1 slice (30g) white | 79 |
| Brussels Sprout | 1 cup (156g) | 56 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Thyme | 1 tsp dried (1.4g) | 4 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Veal | not in our table | 0 |
Totals for the whole recipe, adding one typical portion per ingredient — listed above. Quantities in the recipe are not counted, so this is a rough guide only — not suitable for medical or dietary planning.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs (though I found I needed far less)
- 2 teaspoons thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus an extra glug or two for drizzling
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 pounds medium-sized brussels sprouts, washed and trimmed
- Salt and pepper
- 6 ounces pancetta in small dice (1 1/2 cups)
- 3 tablespoons minced shallots
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups veal stock, rich chicken or vegetable broth, more if needed
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley