Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts - Video Recipe

I know, it's cheating, wrapping veggies in bacon - too easy. But, this kind of cheating has never been so right! My latest recipe video, Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts, is a perfect party appetizer.

Decadent as all get out, just put out a platter of these delectable nuggets and watch them disappear in a flash, so be sure to squirrel away a couple for yourself.

These bacon-wrapped veggie orbs are lozenges for the soul - a  smokey, salty, sweet, and savory bite. A roasted Brussels sprout is the ideal size for an appetizer.

The 10-ounce package, I bought at my local 99c only Store, held a bunch of various sizes, from about 3/4 of an inch to 2 1/2 inches tall.

So, it's best to look the package over and pick one that holds Brussels sprouts with more uniform proportions.

Bacon is not cheap anymore. I can get a package, again at the 99c only Store for $1.99, but for this recipe, I'm only using half a package, so it's still within my self-imposed price point.

However, I've also found $1 packages of extra lean Jennie-O turkey bacon at my local Dollar Tree, now that's more like it.

While turkey bacon has low calories going for it, the texture and crispness are different. Turkey bacon crisps evenly, but, I miss the way bacon has strips of meat and fat. This brand of turkey bacon, right out of the package, has the texture of baloney. When fried or baked, it has the familiar bacon flavor. So it's not a bad substitution for the real thing.

 Turkey Bacon

Depending on the size of each Brussels sprout, I used half a slice of bacon per sprout. Ideally, you want to wrap each Brussels sprout one and a half times. If the bacon slice is too small, it will shrink too much and work its way off the sprout (but, since you serve this appetizer with toothpicks, just reattach any bacon that shrinks off the sprout.)

Of course, if the sprouts are large, and your guests are bacon lovers, then wrap them with a whole slice of bacon.

Roast these appetizers for about half an hour, until the bacon is crisp and Brussels sprouts tender. I used a roasting pan with a wire rack, so the excess grease drained off, and the bacon browned evenly. Of course, use what you've got. If it's a flat roasting surface then rotate the Bacon -Wrapped Brussels Sprouts halfway through baking, for even browning.

Porcine-wrapped mini-cabbages are a tasty way to start any party, or just please yourself and make a snack of my Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts.

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts  - VIDEO

 Play it here, video runs 2 minutes, 14 seconds.

My YouTube video link for viewing or embedding, just click here.

Ingredients

• 10-ounce package of Brussels sprouts (about 20 pieces) - amounts and sizes will vary in each package. Try to find a package with uniform sizes. Okay to halve the largest sprouts once they reach 2 inches tall. Okay to use as much Brussels sprouts as you like - just increase the amount of bacon to use.
• 1 package of sliced bacon - okay to use low-calorie (and sometimes cheaper) turkey bacon.

Directions
Prep the Brussels sprouts by giving them a quick rinse, if necessary. Make a thin slice and remove the roots/stems. Remove any yellow or wilted leaves.

If the sprouts are really large, over 2 inches tall, then slice them in half. (Of course, you can roast them whole, just increase the baking time by 10 or 15 minutes, watching closely so that the bacon doesn't burn.) Set aside Brussels sprouts to drain and dry.

For this recipe, I used half a slice of bacon. What you want is for each Brussels sprout to be wrapped, at least, one and a half times with bacon. If you are feeling indulgent, then use a whole slice of bacon on the largest Brussels sprouts.

Place each Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprout with the bacon seam side down. The weight of the Brussels sprout will help keep the bacon from peeling off the sprout during baking.

My roasting pan has a wire rack, so the grease drains, and each appetizer browns evenly. For a roasting pan without a wire rack, be sure to rotate the Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts halfway through cooking, so the bacon roasts evenly.

Add Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts to a roasting pan - in a 350-degree oven. Roast for about 30-45 minutes, depending on how large the Brussels spouts.

When done, pierce the largest Brussels sprout with a toothpick, it should go in easily. Or, reward yourself and try one to check for doneness.

Allow the Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts to cool for a minute before serving - they will be very hot right out of the oven. If bacon separates from any of the sprouts, then reattach with a toothpick. For a party, go ahead and serve Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts speared on toothpicks.