I did not grow up eating Brussels sprouts. My mother never cooked them. I have vague memories of them being a threat of sorts. Like if I did something wrong I’d have to eat Brussels sprouts. Which is silly because my mom would have had to cook them before she could force me to eat them and that wasn’t going to happen. Like I said, the memory is vague. I probably picked it up from a book somewhere.
I finally worked up the courage to try Brussels sprouts two years ago. One of the vendors at the farmers’ market had them still on the stalk and I was fascinated. Had they just been in a bag or pint box I never would have purchased them. But I just couldn’t resist the idea of walking around Brooklyn with a giant stalk of sprouts. So I bought them.
Obviously, not all of this came from the farmers’ market
Of course I got them home and realized I had no idea what to do with them. So I started looking online for a good recipe. I found one on Roost for braised chestnuts and Brussels sprouts and figured “why not?” I’d always wanted to try roasting chestnuts, too, and this seemed like as good a time as any to give it a go.
Brussels Sprouts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Um, my mother lied to me. Brussels sprouts are delicious! They quickly became one of my favorite veggies. I couldn’t get enough of them. If you haven’t tried Brussels sprouts, do! You won’t regret it. Here are some recipes to start with:
- Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Golden Raisins (Real Simple)
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts (White On Rice)
- Golden Crusted Brussels Sprouts (101 Cookbooks)
- Dijon-Braised Brussels Sprouts (Smitten Kitchen)
- Lemony Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts (The Kitchn)
Girl Gone Farming 
I LOVE Brussels sprouts!! They are one of my favorite veggies! And I just discovered them last year, too!!
Yay! Glad I’m not the only one who just jumped on this train. They are so delicious! I think I might make some for dinner tonight. Do you have a favorite recipe or way to prepare them?
I usually just roast with olive oil, salt and pepper. For Thanksgiving, my friend made hers with a balsamic vinegar and maple syrup reduction that was delicious!
Hmmmm…. I haven’t liked them in the past, but maybe it was how they were prepared? The lemony recipe above caught my eye because when I tried sweet potatoes sauteed with a bit of orange juice, the citrus magically removed the gag factor. I’ll put Bs on my shopping list and give ’em another try. 🙂
Let me know how it goes! I definitely prefer them roasted or sauteed over boiled or steamed. The dry heat caramelizes them and brings out a subtle sweetness. Steaming/boiling just leaves them kind of mushy and bitter.