Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts with Honey and Sriracha

- Merrill

Last week, Amanda wrote about horseradish hash browns from The Vanderbilt, now a favorite local dinner spot for both of us. My husband and I love to go there on a weeknight, sit at the bar, which faces the open kitchen, and order a bunch of appetizers and nibbles. Nibbles are a Vanderbilt specialty. There's great homemade beef jerky and pickles, and blistered shishito peppers with dipping salt, but the undisputed star -- which we order every time we go -- is the fried Brussels sprouts. The sprouts arrive in a towering pile; the leaves are pulled apart and fried, with the sweet hearts tossed into the oil and cooked just to the point of tenderness. The crisp shards are then painted with a mix of sriracha, honey and lime juice, making the sprouts tangy, hot and sweet all at once.

This dish has gained some attention outside the restaurant, and blogger Cathy Erway recently included her version (in which the sprouts are roasted) in a piece for Brooklyn Bread. But I wanted to try to get as close to the version at the Vanderbilt as possible, so last week I painstakingly peeled a pound of sprouts and got frying. Happily, I discovered that if you're willing to deal with a little hot oil, you can do a pretty good job of replicating these guys at home. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts with Honey and Sriracha

Adapted from The Vanderbilt

Serves 2 to 4

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts
• 1 tablespoon sriracha (or to taste)
• 3 tablespoons honey
• Juice of 1 large lime
• Salt
• Vegetable oil for frying
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