What Meat Should you Serve with Brussel Sprouts?

Brussel sprouts may not be the first vegetable that comes to mind when you think of pairing with rich and lean pork, but they’re actually a great fit.

The bitter green, while not everyone’s favorite, is fantastic when paired with the rich and salty flavors of pork. It’s something that you might not have thought about before, but once you give it a try, you’ll be a Brussel sprout fan for life. To help you get started, we’ve outlined the top five ways to serve Brussel sprouts with pork.

This article covers everything from how to choose the best Brussel sprouts to how to prepare them for eating. Read on to learn more about this odd but delicious pairing and its health benefits.

Shred or slice your pork before serving

When you’re buying pork for this recipe, look for pork that is lean and boneless. Excess fat will only make the Brussel sprouts taste greasy, so unless you’re buying pork chops with a lot of fat, you’ll want to remove it before cooking.

The next thing to look out for is the “trim” or “lean” label. This is pork that has been cut from the middle portion of the pork loin. It’s often sold as a “random” cut, but it’s actually the perfect cut for this recipe.

If you’re not comfortable handling a knife and cutting your own pork, you can head to the market and ask the butcher for “trim” or “lean” pork.

Toss the pork with dressing and serve

When you’re ready to cook the pork, start by making a quick pork dressing. This will help take the edge off the sprouts’ bitterness and add more pork flavor.

Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, and 2 teaspoons sweet paprika in a bowl or jar. Mix well to combine and set aside.

Fry up some bacon and serve with sprouts

Bacon is the perfect way to add rich and smoky flavor to a dish.

If you’re not a bacon fan, you can substitute the bacon for less fatty cooked pork. While pork can be a little bland on its own, it’s fantastic when paired with sprouts.

If you’re not a fan of frying, you can also pan-fry the pork in a little bit of olive oil. Just be careful not to overcook the pork, as it can become very dry and flaky.

Top pork chops with sprouts

For this method, you’ll want to look for thin-cut pork chops that have been pounded thin.

These will cook much faster than thicker pork chops and take very little time to prepare. Simply season the pork chops with salt and pepper, then drizzle them with olive oil.

Finally, top the pork chops with sprouts. You can use any type of sprouts for this. We like the combination of thinly-sliced kale and rapini with garlic and lemon.

Bottom line

Brussels sprouts and pork are an odd pairing, but it’s one that works really well. Bitter and strong, Brussels sprouts are actually incredibly soft and delicious when paired with pork.

Not only will the sprouts add great flavor to your pork, but they’ll also help reduce the fat content of the pork while maintaining its rich flavor.

If you haven’t tried brussel sprouts paired with pork before, we highly recommend giving it a go. It’s definitely a flavor combination that’s new, but very tasty!