Brussel Sprouts By Jeff Food

FALL STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Whisk the brown sugar and 1/4 cup of the soy sauce in a bowl. Toss the pork in the mixture. Marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.
• Mix together the hoisin, ginger, chili paste, garlic and remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat a large skillet (12- to 14-inch) over high heat and add the oil. Toss the pork with the cornstarch to coat.
• Add the pork to the skillet in small batches and cook, stirring infrequently to ensure good browning and crispness, until the pork is barely cooked through, about 5 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on wire-racked baking sheet.
• Add the sprouts, squash and scallions to the hot skillet and stir-fry until the veggies are crisp-tender and have developed good caramelization, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the pork back and cook 1 minute. Add the hoisin mixture and simmer for an additional 1 minute. Add the pears and toss to coat. Remove from the heat.
• Very thinly slice the reserved scallion tops on the bias and toss them in with the sesame seeds to garnish.

CHARRED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND MAPLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cook the bacon in a large cast-iron pan in the oven or on the stovetop until browned and crisp and the fat has rendered out, about 10 minutes. Set the bacon aside on a cutting board to let cool. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
• Arrange the Brussels sprouts in a single layer in concentric circles, cut-side down, in the bacon fat in the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat until the sprouts begin to caramelize, about 4 minutes . When they begin to brown, transfer the pan to the oven and roast until charred and tender, about 15 minutes.
• Return the pan to medium heat. Transfer the sprouts to a bowl, leaving some fat behind. Add the shallots and cumin to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the shallots soften and the cumin smells fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the maple syrup, mustard and salt and pepper to taste, and whisk until bubbly. Add the sprouts to the sauce and remove the pan from the heat. Add the chives and stir to coat the sprouts in the sauce. Transfer to a serving plate.
• Chop the bacon and sprinkle on top.