Serves 3-4: Prep 15 mins: Cook 40mins:
Ingredients
400g Brussels Sprouts
½ tbsp Rapeseed Oil
50g Streaky Bacon, cut into small squares (optional)
50g Fresh Breadcrumbs
15g Butter
200ml Milk
25g Plain Flour
1tsp English Mustard Powder
50g Cornish Smuggler Cheese, grated
15g Parmesan Cheese, grated
Method
1/ Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Halve any large sprouts and toss them with the oil and some seasoning in a roasting tin or ovenproof dish. Roast for 20 mins until the sprouts are tender and turning golden.
2/ Meanwhile, put the bacon in a cold frying pan and place over a medium-low heat. Gently fry so the fat melts out into the pan as they crisp. When golden brown and crisp, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. Add the breadcrumbs and crisp up in the bacon fat until golden and crunchy. Remove from the pan to cool, then clean the pan.
3/ Melt the butter in the pan with 2 tbsp of the milk, then stir in the flour and mustard powder for 2 mins to make a paste. Gradually whisk in remaining milk, until you have a smooth sauce. Use a spoon again to stir and cook until the sauce comes to the boil and thickens. Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Taste and season.
4/ Tip the sprouts into a baking dish, scatter with the crisp bacon lardons, then spoon over the sauce and scatter with the crispy crumbs. Can be cooled, covered and chilled for up to 48 hrs before baking. Bake for 10 mins (or 20 mins from chilled) at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 until piping hot and bubbling.
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