How to Fall in Love With Brussels Sprouts (Prepare Them Correctly!)

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Brussels Sprouts

Over Easter, The Conductor and I visited a high-end restaurant to treat ourselves to an extravagant Easter brunch buffet.

Now, you might say our first mistake was going to a buffet.

And that our second mistake was going to an Easter buffet.

But it was a high-end restaurant—and a newly opened one at that. Wouldn’t they want to impress newcomers?

Unfortunately, I can never go back. The chefs exhibited extreme ignorance, perhaps negligence (neither are acceptable), in proper preparation of the Brussels sprout. They were bitter, crunchy, and vile.

Little flashback: When The Conductor and I met, one of our very first exchanges was about food. He talked about preparing a carrot salad with coconut and raisins (mixed with mayo), which is the biggest food travesty I can imagine. I changed the subject quickly to Brussels sprouts roasted with fingerling potatoes, shallots, and pancetta, and he wrinkled his nose in disgust.

I know, I can’t believe we made it to another date. But we did. Probably because I forced him to eat my favorite Brussels sprouts dish soon thereafter, and to this day he has had to regularly admit he was wrong.

(I am not wrong about the carrot salad, though.)

Anyway, I’m here to tell you: If you don’t like Brussels sprouts, it’s because you don’t know how to prepare them. As a public service, I am clearly detailing what must happen to enjoy these little majestic veggies, along with the first dish you should attempt.

The Rules

  1. Buy fresh Brussels sprouts.
  2. Cut off the stubby stem (just like you might cut off the stem of a cabbage).
  3. Peel off the outer layers of the sprout. (Important!)
  4. Cut in half.

Toss the sprouts generously with olive oil. Add small, halved potatoes (fingerling are ideal), onions or shallots, and some pancetta or diced bacon. Add kosher salt and pepper. Roast in the oven (about 450F), stirring every 15 minutes. Within 45 minutes (maybe sooner, depending on the aggressiveness of the oven and the composition of your pan), take it out. Consider adding a little butter or lemon.

What will happen to those sprouts? They will melt in your mouth, without a trace of bitterness.

If you don’t like that preparation, check Smitten Kitchen (with wonderful photos of sprouts):

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  • terripatrick

    A quick prepare for sprouts I do often is the same as your 4 steps.
    THEN: In a small saute pan, coat with a little olive oil, garlic, sometimes a dab of butter and sprinkling of water. Layer the sprouts open side down in the oil/garlic. Season if desired. Cover. Steam, on medium heat, for about 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the sprout. Tasty, tender, no bitterness and simple. :)

  • http://twitter.com/brockhenning Brock S. Henning

    Now you're taking me back to my southern Indiana roots, except I had to eat boiled brussel sprouts with a little butter and salt. Your recipe sounds much better…maybe I'll revisit the delicacies of my youth. ;)

  • http://whenfridayswerefridays.blogspot.com/ Colette

    I happen to believe brussel sprouts are among the most misunderstood vegetables. Thanks for sharing these awesome recipes!

  • christinakatz

    Hey! My mother makes that carrot salad at which you wrinkle your nose. Don't knock it until you try it, sister.

    As for Brussel Sprouts — gross! Possibly the nastiest food on the planet right next to liver. Ack!

    To each her own…speaking of which, what's for lunch?

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    A pleasure! :)

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    For some reason, not once was I *ever* served Brussels sprouts as a child, teenager, or college student, despite growing up in Indiana — though I am familiar with the Hoosier tradition of letting no vegetable go untouched without adding half a stick of butter to it. :)

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    Lovely!

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    Carrot salad reminds me of:

    1) waldorf salad – ick
    2) carrot soup – even worse

    Truth be told, I can't think of a single dish I enjoy that depends upon carrots.

  • Michael Wheatley

    Thank you, Christina!!! Although Jane has led me to change my mind entirely about the sprouts in question (I had for over 25 years described them just as you did) – our carrot salad is a lovely dish!

  • Writergrrl

    For YEARS I hated Brussels sprouts. Growing up they were prepared in a manner akin to cabbage (another vegetable I hated). But as an adult I realized that if I liked broccoli and asparagus, chances were I'd actually like the flavor of the sprouts if I gave them another chance. Two years ago at Christmas, my husband's family came to stay. They are British and, apparently, Brussels sprouts are a compulsory holiday side dish. So I found one recipe (strikingly similar to yours) in Real Simple magazine: Roasted Brussels sprouts with Pecans. My new word for the much maligned sprout? Yum!!

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    I had no idea Brussels sprouts were popular in Britain … though, now that I think about it, that WAS one of the few fresh veggies available on the Irish island I visited over Christmas!

  • Writergrrl

    Well, I can't speak for other popular foods in the UK (WTH is with blood pudding?), but I am glad my MIL convinced me that Brussels sprouts could be especially tasty!! ;)

  • sammiejustesen

    A southern Indiana farm girl here, and I sure didn't know you could roast brussel sprouts. Like Brock, we boiled them to death, and then slathered them with butter. Real butter, plus salt. I'll try your recipe, Jane — it sounds great.

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    Goodness, I had no idea you were from southern Indiana! Thanks so much for stopping by my site. Next time we're at a conference together, we must compare farm girl notes. :-)

  • http://sites.google.com/site/pmpoetwriter/ PM_27

    Brussels sprouts–will give them another try–didn't know about removing the outer leaves!!!!

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    Yes! Makes a big difference! :)

  • cucee sprouts

    I love Brussels Sprouts but I’ve never really had them “raw” until now. I love your recipe but I also want to share mine with you – my recipe is so simple but SOOO good!!! http://cuceesprouts.com/2010/09/shaved-brussels-sprouts-salad/

  • http://www.janefriedman.com Jane Friedman

    Awesome, thanks!