These keto brussels sprouts with bacon come in around 7 grams of net carb a serving, browned in the rendered bacon fat and finished with the crumbled bacon on top. Sprouts and bacon are a match made in low carb heaven, even for a former green-hater like me.
When I was a kid I hated anything green. When I say anything I mean anything. I didn't even like green jello. I have recently even learned that my poor mother would remove the parsley from chicken broth that would come in the Ramen Noodles packages! When I started living a low carb lifestyle I began re-testing the waters of my green phobia and was happy to learn that now that I am no longer 10 years old I actually like green veggies! Surprisingly one of my favorites is brussels sprouts. If you are like me and as a kid refused to eat these little beauties you might want to give them a try again. I believe that our taste buds grow over time and things that may have made us gag as a kid taste pretty darn good as an adult. If you worry that this will not be the case I recommend cooking them with bacon. Bacon can make anything taste amazing and I think brussels sprouts and bacon are a match made in low carb heaven.
Brown them in the bacon fat
The order matters. Cook the bacon first until it is crispy and fully cooked, pull it out, and brown the halved sprouts in the rendered fat that is left behind. That fat is where the flavor is, and a hard sear on the cut sides builds the nutty, sweet edge that makes people who swear they hate sprouts come back for more. The crumbled bacon goes on at the very end so it stays crisp.
Braise tender, or roast for crisp edges
From here you have a choice. My recipe braises the browned sprouts in chicken broth until a fork slides in easily, which gives you soft, tender sprouts. If you would rather have crisp, caramelized edges, skip the broth and roast the halves cut-side-down in the bacon fat at 425°F instead. Long boiling is the one thing to avoid either way, since that is what turns sprouts grey and bitter. Pick the texture you like, and find more in my low carb side dishes guide.
Sources:
USDA FoodData Central, nutrient reference for brussels sprouts and bacon
Sugarfreechic test kitchen, brussels sprouts and bacon notes
