Pan-fried Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Did you grow up disliking soggy, cabbage-smelling Brussels sprouts? I did. Then I discovered how delicious pan-fried Brussels sprouts. With a bit of charring and some cured pork fat if you like they are delicious! I like to use a spicy, chilli-flecked pancetta (or the black pepper-dusted one from Salumi Australia), but a mild one works just as well, or skip the pancetta and use an extra tablespoon of olive oil for a vegetarian dish. I’m happy to eat a plate of these with some crunchy bread as a light meal, in which case a glass of Poppelvej Rookie is a great accompaniment. It’s grenache, but not as we often see it, lighter and with some lovely herbal notes to match the sprouts.

Serves 4 as a side dish

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 golden shallot, finely diced
125g flat pancetta, diced
Salt flakes, to taste
350g Brussels sprouts, halved lengthways

Method

Place oil, shallot and pancetta in a heavy-based frying pan (cast-iron is ideal), over medium heat.
Add a good sprinkle of salt and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fat has rendered.
Push pancetta to the sides of the pan, place sprouts into the pan in a single layer, cut side down and gently push pancetta back over and around them.
Add ¼ cup boiling water, cover and cook for about 10 minutes, until water has evaporated and sprouts are tender at the stem end.
Uncover, increase heat to high and cook for a further 2-3 minutes, until cut side is well-coloured.
Serve caramelised Brussels sprouts in the pan.