Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

5 from 1 vote

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Two of my favorite vegetables, bound together in love and bacon.

Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon / Lucy Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com
Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon / Lucy Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Like many people, I like to reward myself for eating healthfully with treats.  Sometimes I figure out how to do it in THE SAME DISH.   Such a good person for eating so much kale and Brussels sprouts….I deserve a little bacon.  Put that there right on top.

Like many great dishes, this was born of stuff that was lying around in the fridge.  Making something from what you have on had is one of the most gratifying ways I know of to cook.  You feel like a hero.  “I made this, from things I already had around?  And didn’t have to run to the supermarket?  Me smart.”

Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon: Two of my favorite vegetables, bound together in love and bacon.

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Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon / Lucy Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Two bunches of kale in the fridge (no room for kale haters here, please move along).  A slightly sad looking container of Brussels sprouts that needed to be cooked in the near future, or forever hold their peace.  And a small container of crispy crumbled bacon, leftover from a spit pea soup that had come and gone.

(Hint: if you are sauteing or baking bacon for one recipe, make more than you need.  You will use it later in the week on pasta, in a casserole, in a quesadilla, in a pan sauce, in a frittata, in a salad.)

Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon / Lucy Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Did that photo with the Greek Turkey Meatloaf make you pause?  Here is the recipe for that.

The red pepper flakes and garlic provide heat and interest, but temper the amounts if you have people at the table who don’t like a little gasp of spiciness in their vegetables.  You can always pass more pepper flakes on the side.  Also, I used the leftovers of this recipe in a fantastic quesadilla with some pre-shredded Mexican blend cheese in a bag.  It was one of my favorite quesadillas ever.

Other Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Recipes:

Also see How to Cook Brussels Sprouts!

5 from 1 vote

Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Two of my favorite vegetables, bound together in love and bacon.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 People

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved or quartered if large
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoons red pepper flakes or to taste
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2 bunches kale tough stems discarded, leaves torn into small pieces (about 8 cups)
  • ¼ cup crumbled cooked bacon
  • ½ cup chicken broth

Instructions 

  • In a large pot, heat the olive oil over high heat.  Add the Brussels sprouts and cook, letting them sit for a bit in between stirs, so the outsides brown up nicely in spots, about 4 minutes.  Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic and saute until it colors slightly, about 1 minute.  Stir in the red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper. Add the kale, you may have to do this in batches, letting it cook down a bit before you can add more.  Stir in half of the bacon.
  • Add the broth and cover the pot, removing the lid and giving it a stir every minute or so co it cooks evenly.  Cook until the kale is nicely wilted but not fully deflated, about 5 minutes.  Taste and adjust seasonings.
  • Turn onto a serving platter, sprinkle over the rest of the bacon, and serve.

Notes

If you are sauteing or baking bacon for one recipe, make more than you need.  You will use it later in the week on pasta, in a casserole, in a quesadilla, in a pan sauce, in a frittata, in a salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 88kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 182mg, Potassium: 427mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 2518IU, Vitamin C: 89mg, Calcium: 62mg, Iron: 1mg
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About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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4 Comments

  1. I like your writing style, and I am of the same mind…cook/use up what’s already on hand…brings out my creativity!
    I look forward to making this for the Thanksgiving table. ;)