Crack Brussels sprouts with bacon and kimchi

There are few higher honors for food than comparing it to drugs - namely, “crack.” I confess, I’ve never tried crack or anything remotely like it, but using the word really drives the point home, doesn’t it?

The inspiration for this dish comes from Barn Joo, a gastropub near my work that has a great happy hour. I always order the brussels spouts when I’m there. They are technically a side dish but are also perfect for nibbling on with that après-work glass of wine. The dish consists of charred Brussels sprouts, chewy barley and bits of salty bacon, with spicy kimchi laced throughout. Something truly magical happens when these flavors and textures combine and I strongly urge you to try it. Fortunately, recreating the dish at home proved to be very simple. I used wheat berries instead of barley since it’s what I had on-hand, and the two have similar textures (farro would work just as well). You could have a big bowl of this for dinner, or enjoy it as a side dish. You could also top it with a fried egg for breakfast.

Crack Brussels sprouts with bacon and kimchi
(Yield: 4 side dish servings)
Ingredients:

• 3 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2″ pieces
• 1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved
• 1 cup cooked wheat berries
• 1/2 cup kimchi*
• 1 Tbsp. kimchi brine
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

*For this recipe, I used kimchi marked as “medium spicy”; you may need to use more/less depending on the heat of your kimchi. Also, if your kimchi comes shredded, use as is. If not, give it a rough chop before adding to the skillet.

1. Heat a large skillet over a medium flame and add bacon. Cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
2. Add Brussels sprouts to skillet and cook, tossing occasionally, until cooked through and browned but not mushy, about 6 minutes.
3. Add wheat berries, kimchi, brine and black pepper to skillet and stir to combine. Cook until kimchi is softened and everything is warmed through, about 2 minutes. Serve hot.