So what have you heard about brussel sprouts?
Growing up the only time I’d ever heard them mentioned was when someone referred to being ‘forced’ to eat them as a kid. And I’d never even seen one until I was in my teens, but by then had only negative feeling towards them and wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole!
What are brussel sprouts?
They are a close relative of the cabbage and actually look like tiny little cabbages themselves. They contain phytonutrients that enhance the body’s ability to fight off disease (even cancer) and also boost the body’s detoxification enzymes, helping the liver.
Brussel sprouts are also very high in vitamins C and K as well as a great source of folic acid.
The first time I’d ever tried them was at the Weston A. Price convention last November. A place where it would look bad if I was picky! They were nothing I’d imagined and they have been on our menu plans at least once a month since then.
I wash them in a bowl of warm water, cut off the stems and wilted leaves, douse in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 350° for about 20 minutes. They make a great side to any dish!
I sucked it up and tried something I was sure I wouldn’t like, so what have you tried lately?
And how do you prepare your brussel sprouts?
This post is also linked to: Real Food Wednesday
Donielle Baker
White Chicken Chili
I steam and then add butter, salt and pepper.
I tried those once. I gagged, haha. But I think they may have been too soggy….. my mom likes things really soggy, and I like them pretty crunchy or not yet done, so I’m going to either make them myself soon or have my sister make them for me and try them again. You’ve inspired me to give them another go! haha
Growing up, my Aunt would always make them in a super yummy creamy cheesy sauce in a crockpot for Thanksgiving. Now I like them either sauteed with leeks or roasted with broccoli.
@Wendy (The Local Cook), Mmmm, cheesy sauce! I like the leek idea. Plus I love having the excuse to buy leeks!
Roasted in the oven with coconut oil and balsamic vinegar, Yum!!
Brussel sprouts are one of the few vegetables I hate, except that I think I’ve only had them once and they were burnt! Both my parents hated them so I was never forced to eat them. I guess I should get over my preconceived notions and try them.
@MacKenzie, Do it, try them…..give in to the peer pressure! 🙂 And yea, I burnt them once and they were just bitter and burnt. Not great at all.
I have only had the frozen kind, but we put them in a pot, heated them up, and then added butter and parmesean cheese…my kids think they are a “treat” veggie! How that happened, I’ll never know…but you go with what you got, right?
I like mine chopped fine and sauteed in butter with garlic and onions, a little salt and pepper, and topped with toasted walnuts. My husband was apalled though, he MUCH prefers his brussels sprouts whole. Personally when whole I find them a bit too bitter.
@Alexis, Interesting, I’ll have to try and cook them up this way. Sounds yummy to me! Thanks for the tip!
I LOVED brussels sprouts when I was a little kid. I think my mom just steamed or sauteed them and seasoned with a little salt and pepper when tender. Mmmmm. I think roasting would be wonderful though…
When I was a kid, I used to eat frozen brussels sprouts. I know it sounds gross now, but I loved them that way!
Thanks for all of your articles and posts; I enjoy reading them every day!
My stepmom roasts them with balsamic vinegar and diced bacon or pancetta. They are AMAZING. I like em steamed with butter too. I tried bubble tea. It was…interesting.
I HATED them as a kid, but rather like them now. I eat them either baked or steamed and douced in rice vinegar.
I, too, steam and add butter and salt. I’ve always liked them. Your way sounds yummy too! My next thing to try is probably going to be liver as we were told yesterday my son (9 mo.) is slightly anemic. He’ll eat it because he eats everything…the question is, will everyone else?
I always thought they were so-so, but last year we grew them for the first time and they were wonderful! They’re supposed to be sweeter if the plant goes through a light frost and if you pick them when they’re very small (like a marble). The plant’s really cool looking, looks like a little palm tree with the sprouts growing up the “trunk”. I picked them at various sizes (the plant keeps putting out), blanched them, froze them individually on cookie sheets, and froze them in ziploc bags. Months later, they tasted garden fresh!
I’m a big fan of brussels sprouts!
@Ann, I’m planting them this year for the first time now that I know we’ll eat them. Thanks for the tips, I can’t wait to try homegrown!
I loooove brussel sprouts! My favorite way to cook them is to wash like you do, slice them in half from top to bottom, toss in olive oil, and cook cut side down in a covered skillet over medium heat for about 8 minutes (until golden brown). I flip them over and cook a few more minutes until just tender and serve hot with Parmesan cheese and a little kosher salt. I’m already craving them again! (I got that recipe from Heidi@ 101cookbooks.com). I may have to try baking them like you do…I am sure they would be delicious!
(I found you via Real Food Wednesday!)
I love brussel’s sprouts and I love Brussels, so the circle is round, non?
I have a bag in the fridge ready to be made into a yummy dish. So many choices here. What’s a girl to do?
I love brussel sprouts! Like you, I never had them growing up, just heard “bad things” about them.. 😉
The way I like to make them is by sauteing with some onion, olive oil, salt & pepper, dab of butter and a splash of lemon juice til tender and slightly browned… mmmm 🙂
I very lightly steam them….until under-done. Then I heat the wok to really hot. And stir fry them in a little oil and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.
SOOOOOOO YUMMY! Still a tad crunchy, bright green, salty, and perfect. My kids LOVE them and ask for them whenever they see them in the store.
We tried the brussel sprouts tonight. Hubs and I had never had them. We really liked them and so did 2 out of 4 kids. Did you cover them when you baked them? Ours weren’t quite as done as I think they should be. Thanks for the challenge 🙂 Even if we are a little late!