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These Brussels sprouts are deep-fried and tossed with feta cheese, a zesty tahini sauce, and thick-cut bacon. A savory and absolutely undeniable way to prepare Brussels. This is, hands down, the most delicious way to prepare a vegetable.
Table of Contents
Tahini Sauce
Outside of deep frying, the beauty in this recipe comes from the simple tahini sauce. Tahini is made from crushed sesame seeds, lending an intense sesame flavor. Paired with garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, and cumin, it renders an intensively flavorful and garlicky sauce that pairs well with savory bacon and light and creamy feta.
Deep Frying Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be transformed into tender, golden, and ultra-crispy bites by deep frying them whole for about 7 minutes. Use a large, heavy-bottomed pot with 2–3 inches of oil, and fry in small batches to prevent boilovers. Be cautious—Brussels sprouts tend to make the hot oil splatter aggressively when first added, so stand back and drop them in gently.
If you’d rather skip the deep frying (or just prefer roasted Brussels), follow the same preparation but roast the sprouts alongside the bacon until deeply golden and crispy. The result will be just as irresistible.
I’m no stranger to preparing killer Brussels sprouts (see my roasted bacon Brussels sprouts or my Brussels sprouts with honey and balsamic.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Tahini: tahini is a creamy paste made from ground sesame seeds, similar to a nut butter. Tahini is used to make tahini sauce in this recipe. Make sure your tahini doesn’t have additional ingredients, such as garlic, olive oil, or spices.
- Feta: feta is a great crumbly cheese, but you could also use cotija for a milder take or even blue cheese for more potent flavor.
- Bacon: get the thickest bacon cut you can find. This makes for the best meaty texture. You can also use pancetta.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
Expert TIps
- Remove the woody stem on the base of the Brussels by slicing it off. This portion is hard and inedible. Ensure large Brussels are cut lengthwise into two halves (from stem to top).
- Use a large or high rimmed pot for frying. Brussels tend to make the hot oil erupt from the moisture in the leaves. You can alternatively roast the Brussels with the bacon until deep golden and tender and dress the same.
More Delicious Roasted Vegetables
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this recipe, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
Fried Tahini Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, stems removed
- 3-4 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1/4 cup tahini sauce, see below
- Canola oil, for frying (48-64 ounces)
- Salt, to taste
Tahini sauce:
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 lemon, juice squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pinch cumin
Instructions
- Remove stems from Brussels, cut larger Brussels in half, otherwise leave whole.
- Combine all tahini sauce ingredients in a blender. Blend or immersion blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside or keep in the fridge until ready.
- In a pan, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a large pot, heat 2-3 inches of oil to 350°F. Add Brussels sprouts carefully in small batches. Moisture in brussels tends to make the oil erupt, so be mindful. Fry for 6-7 minutes or until golden and tender. Flip if necessary.
- Transfer Brussels to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Add Brussels to a large bowl with tahini sauce, feta, bacon, and a pinch of salt. Toss until coated and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
