Brussels Sprouts with Maple Butter and Iberico Ham
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Ingredients (17)
For the fried sage leaves:
- 1 1/2 cups canola or vegetable oil
- 2 ounces fresh sage
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the maple butter:
- 1/4 pound unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 ounces pure maple syrup
For the brussels sprouts:
- 2 ounces Iberico ham, thinly sliced
- 1 ounce pickled garlic, sliced
- 1/8 teaspoon ground toasted long peppercorn
- 1/4 teaspoon Sherry vinegar
- 8 leaves fried sage
- 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, medium to large, cleaned, stem ends trimmed to remove the brown part, and then split lengthwise in half
- 4 ounces vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Tip
How to Store Ham
Hams like to sweat, so it’s important to not wrap hams firmly in plastic or foil to allow a level of circulation. For ham slices, take an airtight container and place a paper towel or sheet of wax paper on the bottom. Place the ham into the lined container and top with another paper towel or sheet of wax paper. Swap the papers when damp and the ham will last three to five days.
For whole, bone-in hams, place the entire dish in a ham bag or cover with a thin dish rag. Both should be soaked in water with two tablespoons of white vinegar to preserve freshness, though it’s obviously ideal to cut the ham into smaller pieces and store using the methods above.
For whole, bone-in hams, place the entire dish in a ham bag or cover with a thin dish rag. Both should be soaked in water with two tablespoons of white vinegar to preserve freshness, though it’s obviously ideal to cut the ham into smaller pieces and store using the methods above.
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Tip
How to Freeze Ham
The first thing you need to do is cut your ham into smaller pieces. Breaking down a ham will allow the meat to freeze easier and prevent the production of freezer burn. Place the pieces into a freezer bag and rid the bag of any excess air. Some experts recommend sucking the air out with a straw before sealing. This will ensure that it’s as close to vacuum-packed as possible. Since the ham is cooked, you should consume it within two months of freezing.
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Tip
How to Thaw Ham
Frozen ham, especially one that’s been cut into smaller pieces, can be easily thawed in the microwave. To speed up the process, the bag of meat can also be placed in a bowl of room-temperature water.
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This recipe from Giuseppe Tentori, chef of Chicago’s swanky steakhouse GT Prime, is a stunning way to serve Brussels sprouts. Pan-seared and tossed in maple butter, they’re garnished with Iberico ham, pickled garlic, and delicately crisp fried sage leaves, for an earthy, sweet, and salty dish that’s extremely elegant yet surprisingly easy to pull off. Iberico ham, or jamón ibérico, is a wonderfully sweet and nutty cured ham from Spain, and it is expensive, but you only need a little bit to make a big impact. If you can’t find it, or can’t justify the splurge (even though it’s totally worth it), you can substitute an equal amount of high-quality, paper-thin serrano or prosciutto.
Long peppercorn is spicy, earthy, and sweet, and can be purchased online or at specialty spice shops, but if you can’t get it, you can leave it out.
For more beautiful Brussels sprouts, check out our Brussels Sprouts and Lemon Risotto recipe, and our Roasted and Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pecorino and Pomegranate recipe.
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What to buy
CDN Long-Stem Thermometer
A long-stem instant-read thermometer is a big help when you're deep-frying or making candy, when precise temperatures can make or break your finished food.
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Instructions
To make the fried sage leaves:
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1
Since the sage fries quickly, be sure to have a spider or strainer ready, as well as a tray lined with paper towels.
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2
Pick the sage and wipe away any dirt with a lightly dampened cloth. If you have to rinse the sage, make sure you dry it thoroughly or it will cause the oil to boil up and potentially overflow the pot.
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3
Heat the oil over medium high heat in a small sauce pot with at least a 2" rim to prevent splashing. The temperature of the oil should be no higher than 350 degrees Fahrenheit or the sage will burn. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test the oil by dropping a very small amount of flour into the oil. If there is no reaction, the oil is not hot enough. If the flour browns immediately and produces a lot of smoke, the oil is too hot. The flour should bubble when it hits the flour and disperse without taking on color too quickly.
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4
When the oil is ready, drop the sage into the pot and stir with a dry spoon just to loosen the leaves up and prevent them from sticking together. Stir lightly every 15 seconds until the leaves begin to bubble less frequently and take on a translucent green appearance. When they are only bubbling very lightly, remove the sage from the oil and place onto the paper towel lined tray to drain.
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5
Sprinkle lightly with salt while still hot and allow to cool to room temperature.
To make the maple butter:
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1
Combine the softened butter and maple syrup in a bowl and mix well to fully incorporate. If using the same day, leave at room temperature, but if making ahead, store in the refrigerator and allow to warm to room temperature before using.
To make the Brussels sprouts:
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1
Warm a large saute or frying pan over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, then add half the oil and half the butter, let the butter melt for a moment and swirl the pan to coat evenly with the oil-butter mixture, then add half the Brussels sprouts. Increase the heat to medium.
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2
Turn all the sprouts so the flat sides are down, touching the pan, and season with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper.
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3
Continue to cook the Brussels sprouts on medium heat, flat side down, until they become an even golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes.
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4
Once the cut sides are golden brown, flip them over and cook for 2 more minutes, then remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. Repeat the above steps to cook the remaining half of the sprouts.
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5
Once all the Brussels sprouts have been browned, wipe the pan clean, to be ready for final cooking and assembly. Over low heat, add all the cooked sprouts back to the cleaned pan and toss in the maple butter until melted and sprouts are evenly covered. Add the Sherry vinegar, a bit more kosher salt and black pepper to taste, and toss again to coat. Transfer sprouts to a serving platter or divide among plates and top evenly with the Iberico ham and pickled garlic slices, then sprinkle with the ground toasted long peppercorn and fried sage leaves.
Photo by: Anthony Tahlier