Marinated Brussels Sprouts with a Dark Chocolate Cayenne Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/4
  
  cup balsamic vinegar
  
• 2
  
  tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1.5
  
  cups brussels sprouts-quartered, with ends trimmed
  
• 2
  
  ounces olive oil
  
• 1
  
  tablespoon shallot-minced
  
• 1/4
  
  teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
• 1.5
  
  cups chicken stock
  
• 2
  
  teaspoons dark chocolate-chopped
  
• salt
  
  to taste
  
• pepper
  
  to taste
  

Directions

1. Combine balsamic vinegar with olive oil and add brussels sprouts; marinate for 10 minutes.
2. Add olive oil to a hot sauté pan and sweat shallots.
3. Add marinated brussels sprouts to pan and sauté on high heat for ~3 min.
4. Add cayenne and chicken stock-to the half-way point of the brussels sprouts.
5. As soon as the liquid comes to a boil, turn the heat down, and simmer (covered) until brussels sprouts are just tender (approximately 15 min); remove brussels sprouts.
6. Add the rest of the chicken stock to the pan and reduce the liquid by half; season.
7. Take the pan off the heat and add chocolate, until melted.
8. Serve the pan sauce over brussels sprouts.