Before I get too deep into this post, I just want to say that I dislike brussels sprouts very very much.  This recipe is actually the only instance that I have ever liked them and I attribute that mainly to the delicious meatballs they are wrapped around.  It’s hard to beat a good meatball, especially one made of pork, mushroom, and basil!  Those are three of my favorite things.  One big tip when making this little appetizer, if you don’t cook the brussels sprout leaves completely they could add a bitter taste to the overall bite.  Otherwise, these make for a tasty bite with pretty presentation.

Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups

Ingredients:
2 medium shallots, divided
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp granulated sugar
1 lbs. ground pork
1/2 cup panko
1/2 cup finely chopped shiitake mushroom caps
2 Tbsp. minced fresh basil
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
1 tsp dark sesame oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 egg white
8 to 10 large brussels sprouts
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2.  Thinly slice 1 shallot; seperate into rings; combine sliced shallot, red wine vinegar, and granulated sugar in a small bowl; lets stand for at least 1 hour
3.  Finely chop remaining shallot; combine with pork, panko, mushrooms, basil, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fresh ginger, sesame oil, kosher salt, garlic, and egg white in a large bowl
4.  With wet hands, divide mixture into 40 portions (approximately 1 Tbsp. each); roll each portion into a 1-inch ball
5.  On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange the meatballs about 1 inch apart; bake for approximately 15 minutes
6.  Remove meatballs and turn oven down to 250 degrees
7.  On another baking sheet, arrange 40 large brussels sprout leaves, making sure there is no overlap; drizzle the leaves with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; bake for 4 minutes
8.  Arrange 1 meatball in each brussels sprout “cup”; top each with 1 or 2 shallot ring; use a toothpick to hold together if the cup is too stiff to hold the meatball