Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Here’s a simple, foolproof way to prepare brussels sprouts: Toss with a little olive oil or bacon fat, salt and pepper and roast until tender inside and crisp outside. Finish with a little red-pepper flakes or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, if you’d like. This recipe serves two, but it doubles or triples easily.

Ingredients

• ¾

  pound brussels sprouts

• 2

  tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or bacon fat

• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

• Red-pepper flakes to taste

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 400. Trim the ends of the brussels sprouts, and remove all yellowing exterior leaves. Put the sprouts in a large bowl, and toss with the oil or bacon fat, and season well with salt and pepper.
2. Pour the sprouts onto a sheet pan and roast in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to brown the vegetables evenly, until crisp on the outside and tender within. Sprinkle a little more salt on them and, if you like, red-pepper flakes.