Brussel sprouts

[Night Elf]

How do you prepare yours? I haven't tasted one in years and can't remember if I like them. DH picked up a bag of frozen sprouts because we're curious.

[happypamama]

I melt a stick of butter and saute a few slivers of garlic in it; then I add the sprouts (I usually use frozen as well) and stir to coat them in the butter. I also sprinkle them with a bit of sea salt. Then I simmer, covered, until they're cooked through and lightly browned. They're very good this way! (They're better fresh and cut in half, but I usually have frozen on hand.) All of my children love them like that!

[extendedforecast]

I quarter them, add salt and a little olive oil, and roast them in the oven. Yum!

[Night Elf]

Excellent. That gives me two ways to try them.

 

Oh, and am I supposed to peel them or are the frozen ones already done and ready to go? Do they need to be thawed before I put them on the stovetop or in the oven?

 

Thanks for getting me started!

[extendedforecast]

I'm on my phone and don't know how to edit. I just re-read your op and saw that you have frozen veggies. I've never made them that way frozen, but we do have a bag of brussel sprouts in the freezer that I need to make, so I'll be following this thread for ideas.

[Barb_]

Just keep them away from water. Shudder. Boiling or steaming completely changes the taste.

[LucyStoner]

Brussel sprouts need to roast or pan fry to get some nice caramelization going. They can't be overcooked or they are nasty. Boiling them or steaming them results in something you might HAVE to eat but you would never WANT to eat. Prepared properly, they are one of my most favorite foods (note I said fave foods and not fave veggies- they are fabulous when cooked right.) They also work best with a bit of fat- butter, olive oil, pork fat or a fatty meat. We eat them a lot when they are in season. Halved or quartered, tossed in olive oil, a touch of salt and maybe some garlic is a good start! I also prepare a 1-pan light meal with is quartered brussel sprouts simmered in chicken broth with seasonings and then pan fried with a bit of chicken italian sausage and toasted almonds. Frozen will never be as good as fresh and be very careful not to overcook the frozen ones, it's easy to do.

[Woodhaven]

Brown chopped onions in a little olive oil, add chicken broth, add thinly sliced carrots. Cover and simmer a few minutes, until lightly steamed. Add in brussel sprouts, cut in half and lightly steam. Take off heat. Add sliced olives and crumbled bacon. Mix. Serve warm. Yum!!

 

Never tried this with frozen brussel sprouts, but it should work as long as you don't add much liquid.

[Elinor Everywhere]

Brussel sprouts need to roast or pan fry to get some nice caramelization going. They can't be overcooked or they are nasty. Boiling them or steaming them results in something you might HAVE to eat but you would never WANT to eat. Prepared properly, they are one of my most favorite foods (note I said fave foods and not fave veggies- they are fabulous when cooked right.) They also work best with a bit of fat- butter, olive oil, pork fat or a fatty meat. We eat them a lot when they are in season. Halved or quartered, tossed in olive oil, a touch of salt and maybe some garlic is a good start! I also prepare a 1-pan light meal with is quartered brussel sprouts simmered in chicken broth with seasonings and then pan fried with a bit of chicken italian sausage and toasted almonds. Frozen will never be as good as fresh and be very careful not to overcook the frozen ones, it's easy to do.

 

This is how my dh makes them, too...roasted, with olive oil, salt, or cooked with bacon. YUM, we love them and eat them often during the season.

[MyLittleWonders]

We halve them (peel off the outer leaves if they look a little ragged), toss in olive oil with sliced shallots, salt, and pepper, and then roast. One of these times we'll remember to add bacon and garlic. ;) We love them (the boys not so much but dh and I do).

[Jenn121]

I guess I am the lone sprout lover that is ok with steaming. (I don't boil any veggie except potatoes). But I would eat sprouts just about anyway you can give the to me!

 

I steam them, then melt a little butter on them..................................... Yummy!

 

Jenn

[lavender's green]

I agree with all the PPs, but would add that however you cook them, they're really good finished off with a little grated parmesan.

[GraciebytheBay]

I thought I hated Brussels sprouts until last year. We went to someone's house for supper, and she roasted them. DELICIOUS! Now I make them the same way - halve them, coat with olive oil (or basting oil with garlic), salt and roast. You'll love these vegetables with a bad rap! Our moms did them a disservice when they boiled the heck out of them. Little did we know...

[Mrs Mungo]

I quarter them, add salt and a little olive oil, and roast them in the oven. Yum!

 

This is what I do, but I also slice up a red onion into thin slices and roast the slices among the Brussels sprouts. I sprinkle them with a little basalmic before serving. Yum!

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

This is a totally different recipe that I saw in my BIL's cookbook several years ago, and it is absolutely delicious!

 

http://www.recipe.com/orange-glazed-brussels-sprouts-and-carrots/

[Elinor Everywhere]

This is what I do, but I also slice up a red onion into thin slices and roast the slices among the Brussels sprouts. I sprinkle them with a little basalmic before serving. Yum!

 

This gets my mouth salivating!

[TXMomof4]

We fry some bacon then halve the sprouts and fry them in the bacon grease til they're browned. Add about a cup of chicken broth and cook til tender. Crumble the bacon over them amd chow down. We literally fight over them. I never seem to make enough.

[Danestress]

Brussel sprouts need to roast or pan fry to get some nice caramelization going. They can't be overcooked or they are nasty. Boiling them or steaming them results in something you might HAVE to eat but you would never WANT to eat.

 

I must be a freak of nature, because I take fresh Brussel sprouts, cut a cross in the bottom of them, and steam them. Salt and pepper them and I am good to go. I love them that way!

[AlmiraGulch]

We fry some bacon then halve the sprouts and fry them in the bacon grease til they're browned. Add about a cup of chicken broth and cook til tender. Crumble the bacon over them amd chow down. We literally fight over them. I never seem to make enough.

 

This is exactly how I do it! The key is to make sure they're nice and brown and caramelized. YUM.

[GraciebytheBay]

I also like to roast them (as in my post above) with cut up cauliflower and cubed butternut squash. The veggies are so sweet - the kids love them, and that is saying something!

[MrsMommy]

I thought I hated Brussels sprouts until last year. We went to someone's house for supper, and she roasted them. DELICIOUS! Now I make them the same way - halve them, coat with olive oil (or basting oil with garlic), salt and roast. You'll love these vegetables with a bad rap! Our moms did them a disservice when they boiled the heck out of them. Little did we know...

 

 

This.

 

I was certain I hated brussels sprouts. Probably because my mom just boiled the frozen ones until they were limp, but I digress.

 

Anyway, we had an English-themed Christmas dinner this year, and everything I read said that brussels sprouts were an important part of such a feast. To be honest, I thought I'd make them and end up throwing them all out, but I wanted to have them for authenticity's sake. And then I discovered that when they're roasted, they're delicious!

 

I'm still not trying lima beans again, though. I can't imagine any way those are actually good!

[Mrs Mungo]

I hate Lima beans too!

[UrbanSue]

We fry some bacon then halve the sprouts and fry them in the bacon grease til they're browned. Add about a cup of chicken broth and cook til tender. Crumble the bacon over them amd chow down. We literally fight over them. I never seem to make enough.

This is pretty much what we do, too. Sprouts are one of my favorite foods.

[annandatje]

While I prefer roasted or sauteed, I also like them steamed with homemade cheese sauce.

[unsinkable]

We fry some bacon then halve the sprouts and fry them in the bacon grease til they're browned. Add about a cup of chicken broth and cook til tender. Crumble the bacon over them amd chow down. We literally fight over them. I never seem to make enough.

 

My brother says this is how they cook them. He says they are awesome.

 

I like Brussels sprouts but never make them myself.

[TammyinTN]

I pop them in a pan with half a stick of butter and bacon. I cook them until they are nice and brown. Delicious!

[4kidlets4me]

I use this recipe from Rachael Ray. Even the kids eat them.

[AimeeM]

I don't use frozen (I use fresh), but I'll tell you what I do with them.

 

Halve sprouts. Blanch for about 5/6 minutes in boiling water. Saute in bacon and white vinegar. Add a bit of salt.

 

Yum, yum, yum. My favorite.

[Jenn121]

This.

 

I was certain I hated brussels sprouts. Probably because my mom just boiled the frozen ones until they were limp, but I digress.

 

Anyway, we had an English-themed Christmas dinner this year, and everything I read said that brussels sprouts were an important part of such a feast. To be honest, I thought I'd make them and end up throwing them all out, but I wanted to have them for authenticity's sake. And then I discovered that when they're roasted, they're delicious!

 

I'm still not trying lima beans again, though. I can't imagine any way those are actually good!

 

 

My stepmother is English and we lived there many years ago. That is where my love of sprouts started.

Sunday roast leg of lamb with mint sauce (not jelly), roast potatoes and brussel sprouts and gravy! My mouth waters thinking about it!!

 

Jenn

[Rosie_0801]

I saute mine with either garlic, cumin seeds or caraway seeds.

[Kareni]

My sister shreds and then sautés them in butter and olive oil. She serves them with bacon that has been fried crisp and chopped. They are universally loved even by those who don't like Brussels sprouts. (I do like Brussels sprouts but add bacon and I could love just about anything!)

 

Regards,

Kareni

[unsinkable]

It's so nice to see a HOT thread with a bland subject line that hasn't spun out into an argument!

 

LOL

[besroma]

We like them fresh or frozen, but they are so much better when you buy them fresh.

 

We boil the frozen ones per the package directions, then sautee in butter with breadcrumbs.

 

If you do not like the frozen ones, please try roasting some fresh ones before you determine you do not like brussel sprouts.

 

We do the bacon and sauteeing recipe mentioned above, and roasting with just olive oil and salt, either alone or mixed with other veggies (onions, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots....).

[Catwoman]

It's so nice to see a HOT thread with a bland subject line that hasn't spun out into an argument!

 

LOL

 

:iagree:

 

Probably it was the bacon that saved it. ;)

 

 

[Belacqua]

I like them best halved and roasted. If I'm feeding the sprout-averse, however, I'll chiffonade them (cut them into tiny, shreddy strips) and saute them with a bit of butter, some lemon juice, and some poppy seeds if I have any. It's almost a salad.

[besroma]

 

 

Probably it was the bacon that saved it. ;)

 

 

:D

[LucyStoner]

I must be a freak of nature, because I take fresh Brussel sprouts, cut a cross in the bottom of them, and steam them. Salt and pepper them and I am good to go. I love them that way!

 

I have never had them this way and not overcooked. I still recall with displeasure choking down the ones my MIL and my BIL cook them- steam until you get sort of a slimy mush. I always roast at about 450 degrees or pan fry/saute. Maybe I should give steaming it a try myself.

[Melissa in Australia]

I am a boring cook.

I have only used fresh ones. I peel them, cut an X into the base and then boil them.

[skyday]

I am a boring cook.

I have only used fresh ones. I peel them, cut an X into the base and then boil them.

 

Just curious as to what the "x" at the base does. I have heard of other people doing this and didn't know the reasoning behind it...

[MamaAkins]

I only prepare fresh brussel sprouts. I slice them in half and toss them with coarse kosher salt, olive oil, and pepper and roast them in a 425 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes.

[TXMomof4]

I hate Lima beans too!

Just the thought of lima beans makes me gag. My mom thinks they're the greatest food on earth and we had them every Sunday growing up. I swore I would NEVER cook them, and so far I haven't.

[Annie]

I roast them after cutting them in half and coating with olive oil, salt, and balsamic. Yum.