It wouldnt be the holidays without it.
My familys Christmas must-have is a quirky appetizer called sprouts in blankets.
Water chestnuts were hard to come by in our small town, so my mom subbed Brussels sprouts.
Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Since liver of any kind was a hard sell in our home, she omitted it altogether.
The sweetness of real maple syrup counters the bitterness of the sprouts.
Tips for Perfect Sprouts in a Blanket
The most important thing for this dish is the shopping.
Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
First, look for fairly large Brussels sprouts, 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches across.
Any smaller and you risk overcooking the sprouts by the time the bacon is done.
Dont skimp on the bacon.
Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Use real maple syrup, not imitation stuff.
The flavor of themaple syrupintensifies as it roasts and caramelizes as it drips on the sheet tray.
If you use artificially flavored syrup, it will burn and taste, well, artificial.
If youre feeling fancy, it’s possible for you to add fresh chopped rosemary when seasoning the sprouts.
About 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary adds a woodsy, herbal flavor.
Its my addition since I have a huge rosemary bush in my yard.
Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Place the bacon in the freezer for 5 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Meanwhile, rinse sprouts, trim off the ends, and halve them through the root end.
Toss with the oil, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
Separate the bacon slices and cut them in half lengthwise with a sharp paring knife.
Cut each strip in half crosswise, making 4 pieces.
Starting with the cut side of a sprout, wrap a piece of bacon around the sprout.
Ideally, the bacon will wrap all the way around the sprout and end on the cut side.
Depending on the size of the spouts, the bacon may wrap around 1 1/2 times, thats fine.
Place the sprouts cut side down on the baking sheet, arranging them with 1/2 inch space between them.
The sprouts can be covered in foil and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Let stand at room temperature while the oven is preheating.
Transfer the sprouts to the oven and bake on the center rack for 20 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the sprouts lightly with maple syrup.
