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Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Bacon

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Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon…roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion!

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

 

When I was growing up, I hated brussels sprouts. H-A-T-E-D them! I was the kid who had to sit at the dinner table until she finished, trying to feed my dog my brussels sprouts while my parents were out of the room…unsuccessfully, I might add.

But it turns out that I don’t hate brussels sprouts after all. It’s all in the way they’re cooked. I don’t like boiled brussels sprouts. Roasted brussels sprouts, on the other hand, are wonderful! My kids like them as well.

But I didn’t discover that until I moved to Connecticut with my husband. The first time I ever enjoyed a brussels sprout was at his parents’ dinner table. I did not want to eat them. But you do NOT turn down my father-in-law’s cooking. EVER.

Every dish was a masterpiece with father-in-law. He was that good of a cook. I cannot tell you how much I miss my father-in-law and his cooking. He passed away a few summers ago after a long battle with cancer. The day he went into the hospital he had planned a whole dinner with friends who were in town visiting, and he’d prepped it all the day before. He loved to cook. It was his passion.

He also loved to entertain. He went all out when he planned a holiday meal. We’re talking extravaganza here. Back in those days, he pretty much did all the cooking — by choice. He had all of us helping in the kitchen, including grandchildren, but his stamp was on pretty much every dish. I am serious when I say the most I ever made for a holiday meal was the salad dressing. For some reason, I was in charge of the salad dressing a good portion of the time. But everything else…he did it all.

Everyone on my husband’s side is a great cook, including spouses, and even grandkids who are old enough…probably because we all spent so much time in the kitchen with him. I’ve featured a number of family recipes on my blog.

This Brussels Sprouts Gratin is not a family recipe, but it has its roots in one. The Cheesy Potatoes recipe that inspired me to create Brussels Sprouts Gratin dish for Easter this year is a variation of a recipe that my father-in-law (and now I) make every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, at my daughter’s request.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS GRATIN WITH BACON

Cooking for a holiday dinner can be overwhelming, so it’s nice to have an easy dish or two on the menu. This is one of those easy dishes!

First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

I like to cook my bacon ahead of time, so I’m not rushing while making the cream sauce. Once your bacon is cooked, drain the slices on paper towels and crumble.

Rinse your brussels sprouts, cut off the ends, peel away the outer leaves, and then cut them in half.

Toss them with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and a liberal grinding of salt and pepper.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

Spread the brussels sprouts out in your baking dish in a single layer. Roast them for 15-20 minutes. I usually pull them out somewhere in the middle of that once I start to see them browning.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

While the brussels sprouts are roasting, go ahead and make the cream sauce.

In a nonstick pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add your shallots and garlic and cook until the shallots are translucent. Then add the flour slowly, constantly stirring. Using a whisk, add the Hood® Light Cream to the pan, in small increments, stirring the entire time. Add the salt, lemon zest, pepper and cayenne to the mixture, continuing to stir. Remove the pan from heat and stir in cheeses, reserving about a 1/2 cup of cheese.

Spoon mixture over roasted brussels sprouts, then top with the remaining cheese and the bacon bits.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

Reduce your oven temperature to 350 degrees, place your baking dish back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes until the cheese has melted and the cream sauce starts to bubble.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

For my Brussels Sprouts Gratin recipe, I chose to use Light Cream. Hood’s light cream especially is a staple in my kitchen…I cook with it weekly. It is the only cream I buy. You’ll see Hood mentioned in many of my recipes, and that is because I trust their quality. They’re committed to making high quality dairy products that you can trust…products that will take your dish from ordinary to extraordinary!

But don’t just take my word for it. Top chefs across the region trust Hood as well. Hood is  one of the largest branded dairy operators in the United States, and the number one dairy brand in New England. And right now, Hood is making it even easier to celebrate the Easter holiday with family and friends. This Sunday, check your newspaper for a coupon insert for coupons on all Hood products. Save a little money when you’re cooking for Easter this year!

Who can resist this creamy cheesy goodness?!

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

FOR MORE HOLIDAY RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY, CHECK OUT MY PINTEREST BOARD

 Now let’s get cooking!

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs brussels sprouts, ends cut off, outer leaves stripped, halved
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • liberal grinding of salt and pepper
  • 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon shallots, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 2 cups Hood light cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • pinch of cayenne
  • 1 cup gruyere, grated
  • 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cook your bacon, drain slices on paper towels, then crumble and set aside.
  3. Rinse your brussels sprouts, cut off the ends, peel away the outer leaves, and then cut them in half.
  4. Toss brussels sprouts with olive oil and a liberal grinding of salt and pepper.
  5. Place in a baking dish in a single layer; roast for 15-20 minutes.
  6. While brussels sprouts are roasting, melt butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
  7. Add shallots and garlic; cook until the shallots are translucent.
  8. Add flour slowly, constantly stirring.
  9. Using a whisk, add the Hood® Light Cream to the pan, in small increments, stirring the entire time.
  10. Add the salt, lemon zest, pepper and cayenne to the mixture, continuing to stir.
  11. Remove the pan from heat and stir in cheeses, reserving about a 1/2 cup of cheese.
  12. Spoon mixture over roasted brussels sprouts, then top with the remaining cheese and the bacon bits.
  13. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees, place your baking dish back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes until the cheese has melted and the cream sauce starts to bubble.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1538Total Fat: 142gSaturated Fat: 61gCholesterol: 284mgSodium: 4147mgCarbohydrates: 16gSugar: 5gProtein: 51g

 

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

 

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with bacon...roasted brussels sprouts are paired with a rich cheesy cream sauce, perfect for any holiday occasion! Side dishes | Easter | Thanksgiving | Christmas | Holiday side dishes

Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Bacon

Cheryl Wright

Tuesday 16th of May 2017

What cheese other than the gruyere can I use? I am not a big cheese fan mostly cheddar, mozzarella. Not a fan of the fancy smelly cheeses at all.

Michelle Nahom

Tuesday 16th of May 2017

I've never made it with anything else, but we love gruyere here. Maybe try a mix of fontina and parmesan? You could try sharp white cheddar too, but the flavor is going to be different when you change up the cheese. Happy experimenting!!

thebensonstreet

Friday 14th of April 2017

Bacon makes everything yummy! Thanks for sharing at the Monday Funday Party. - Emily

Ginger

Saturday 8th of April 2017

That looks delicious - and so healthy, too! Thanks for bringing this post along to Fiesta Friday! I hope you enjoy the party. Ginger x

Beverly

Thursday 6th of April 2017

We love Brussels sprouts. Pinning this and definitely making it. Thanks for sharing at Over The Moon Party. Hugs, Bev

Angie | Big Bear's Wife

Wednesday 5th of April 2017

I could totally fall in love with brussels sprouts if I had them like this!

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