Merquén flavored brussel sprout pasta with crispy breadcrumbs

An easy to prepare pasta dish using brussel sprouts that are in season here at the moment. Another vegetable that isn´t always loved at first sight but combines deliciously with the other ingredients in this dish. A scrumptious combination of flavors and textures.

Serves 4

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400 g              spaghettini
4                     thin slices sourdough bread
2 tbsp             good quality olive oil
4                     garlic cloves
160 g              butter
500 g              brussel sprouts, trimmed and sliced
100 g              bacon, finely diced (optional)
                       merquén, what it is and where to buy , spanish link to Wikipedia                                                                                         
                       sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp              fresh lemon juice
                        freshly grated parmesan to serve

Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water as indicated on the package. Drain and keep warm. Save some of the cooking water - you might need to add some if the pasta should be to dry.
How to cook pasta

In a small pan fry the bacon over medium heat until crisp, let excess fat drip off on paper towel.

Cut the bread into smaller pieces and place in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until roughly chopped.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add breadcrumbs and half of the garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium, add the butter, sprouts, merquén and remaining garlic to the pan and cook about three minutes until the sprouts are tender. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, parmesan and pasta and toss to combine. Top with breadcrumbs, bacon bits  and more parmesan and merquén to serve.

©just cook!