Brussels sprouts can be glorious when properly cooked, like in this recipe for Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Chicken Sausage and Pasta. Easy and delicious.
How to make - Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Chicken Sausage and Pasta
Did you always have a problem eating your Brussels sprouts? They look like a miniature cabbage, can smell like feet, and are too often boiled into a bitter, soggy mess.
And who wants to eat a bitter soggy mess?
But Brussels can be glorious when properly cooked. And they are a nutritional dynamo containing vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, and dietary fiber and they help protect against colon cancer. Boiling them not only reduces the level of cancer-fighting compounds but turns this delicate veggie into rubber. So steam, roast, sauté or caramelize them as I did in this Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Chicken Sausage and Pasta recipe and in my recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts.
Brussels can be glorious when properly cooked.
How to choose good Brussels
When picking Brussels sprouts, pick those that feel tightly compacted and hard when you squeeze them. I like the smaller sprouts as they tend to be sweeter-tasting, while larger sprouts are more cabbage-like. You can buy sprouts on or off the stem, they are equally good, and they will keep for several weeks in the fridge.
Just beware if they are charging "per pound" when you buy on the stem, as the stem has the majority of the weight.
How to Prepare Brussels Sprouts
To prepare Brussels, trim off the dry part of the stem at the base of the sprout and any loose outer leaves. You can leave the sprouts whole, slice them in half, or even shred them for a salad or hash. I love them roasted and caramelized as they are in this recipe.
I also find that by soaking them for half an hour in salted ice water some of the bitterness they sometimes display will be removed.
What the Pasta
I used Orecchiette (little ears) pasta in this dish because I like the way it holds the pieces of Brussels sprouts inside the curve of the shell, giving each bite a bit of the caramelized goodness. You could substitute a shell or fusilli type of pasta for the same effect.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Chicken Sausage and Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 12 ounce package chicken sausage I used a roasted garlic flavor
- 3 cups thinly sliced fresh Brussels spouts
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil divided
- 3 tablespoons thinly sliced garlic about 5 large cloves
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese plus more to pass
- 8 ounces orecchiette pasta cooked to package directions, drained with ½ cup pasta water reserved
Instructions
- Cook the sausage over medium heat until browned. Slice the sausage on the diagonal into ½ inch slices.
- In a large saute pan, bring 2 cups water with a bit of salt to a boil; add the Brussels and blanch for 2 minutes; drain well. Dry the pan.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in the saute pan over medium heat; add the Brussels and saute until beginning to brown, about 10 - 15 minutes; add the remaining oil and the garlic along with the red pepper flakes; continue to cook until the Brussels and garlic are lightly caramelized. Add the cheese and toss with the vegetables; add the orecchiette along with the sausage slices; saute until all is hot and well combined; adding some pasta water if it seems too dry. Serve with additional cheese to pass, if desired.
Elaine Schoch says
Looks amazing...
Cher says
I love Brussels Sprouts - seriously... With garlic and teriyaki, it is my favorite! I think your recipe sounds fabulous and may get others in this household on board with the Brussels Sprouts train!