There are so many amazing restaurants in Portland. Living here is a foodie’s dream.

We recently tried Lardo (a food cart turned restaurant), which has become quite famous for its coma-inducing sandwiches. However, after sampling a few items all I could think about was recreating their crispy fried Brussels sprouts.

They’re perfectly tender with a crisp bite, and are tossed in a creamy, bright-orange “mustard” sauce that’s amazing. It’s quite possibly what dreams are made of.

For the sauce I went for spicy with loads of Sriracha*. I also think these would also be amazing with a creamy sweet “honey mustard” sauce, which you can adapt from this dressing recipe if you’d rather. Either way, the sprouts are where it’s at.

Note: sriracha is a spicy condiment originating in Thailand. You can read more about its origin story here.

I’m calling these sprouts “Faux Fried” because they’re flash “fried” or sautéed in a very hot skillet to give them that crispy outer edge and tender center.

The beauty of this over roasting? No preheating required, and the whole recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, start to finish. Also? Just 10 ingredients including the sauce.

I’m absolutely smitten with these guys. They’re

Savory

Crisp

Tender on the inside

Garlicky

Dunked in creamy sriracha aioli

& Seriously dreamy

These would make the perfect healthier appetizer or side dish for any weeknight meal, or to bust out when you want to impress friends.

I made a big batch and enjoyed leftovers reheated for lunch and alongside breakfast! The dipping sauce is certainly optional, but in my opinion, the sauce takes them to the next level.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, or take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with. Cheers!