Loaded Brussel Sprouts
When planning a dinner party for some of my closest friends, I didn’t want to serve them your ordinary chips, dips, cocktail weenies etc. I wanted to come up with something unique and delicious to impress my gang and have them screaming “we’ve GOT ROOM FOR MORE!” My friends Jon and Chris and my sister Christiana are all huge Brussel sprout fans, but my boyfriend Daniel is not the biggest fan. After serving this savory, sweet, creamy, crunchy appetizer, you better believe everyone turned into a Brussel believer!
Ingredients
1 container of fresh whole brussel sprouts ( about 2 cups)
Herbed chevre goat cheese (About 4 ounces)
Thick cut bacon cooked until crispy and cut into small bits (about 1/3 cup of bacon bits)
Extra virgin olive oil
Good quality balsamic vinegar
Sea salt & Black Pepper
(Serves 4-6 people)
Steps
Cut the ends off the Brussel Sprouts and slice each one in half vertically.
Thoroughly clean them under warm water in a colander
Preheat the oven to 375 F
Put the Brussel Sprouts in a pot and cover with water (about an inch above the brussels)
Bring to a boil and cook until the Brussel Sprouts are slightly tender (can be pricked with a fork)
use a slotted spoon to strain the Brussels out of the water (be gentle so they don’t fall apart).
Place them onto paper towels and gently pat them dry.
With a small spoon or knife dig a small circular dent into the center of each Brussel Sprouts with the cut side facing up.
Place them cut side up onto a cookie sheet pan and baste them with olive oil
Sprinkle with sea-salt and ground black pepper
Place under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes until they start to get browned
Remove from the oven
Roll small balls of goat cheese using your fingers (wet your fingers lightly if they stick) about the size of a shelled hazelnut, and press them into each indent inside each Brussel Sprout.
Place a bacon crumble or two on top of the goat cheese
Place back in the oven for a moment until the cheese starts to melt slightly and become one with the Brussel Sprouts
Right before you serve these delicious hors d’oeuvres pour about 1/2 a cup of balsamic vinegar into a small non-stick frying pan.
Cook it over medium heat until it starts to bubble and reduce down into a thick syrup.
Drizzle a little of the balsamic reduction onto each stuffed brussel sprout using a small spoon.
Serve on a nice serving dish with our without toothpicks…I believe your hands are the best tool!
Now sit back and watch your guests pop these in their mouths faster than you can say #gotroomformore?