Serve the perfect side of sprouts at Christmas with our classic recipe. Plus, read our tips on buying, cooking and freezing this gorgeous green veg, along with alternative recipe suggestions. Show
Advertisement Tip the sprouts into a pan and add a couple of cm water and a pinch of salt – a large pan works better so they're not piled up too high. Cover and bring the water to the boil, turn down to a simmer and cook with the lid on for 3- 5 mins depending on size. Test with a sharp knife to see if they are cooked through. If not, cook for a little longer and test again. Drain and tip the sprouts into a bowl. Serve with a knob of butter, if you wish. Tips for cooking Brussel sprouts
Other ways to cook Brussel sproutsSteamed sproutsSteam halved sprouts in a steamer set over a pan of simmering water, or in a microwave for 5 mins (longer if needed). Season and dress with butter and a squeeze of orange if you like. Roasted sproutsToss sprouts in a little oil and tip into a baking dish with bacon lardons (or wrap each in pancetta first). Roast at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 20-30 minutes, or until tender. Fondue with roast sprouts Stir-fried sproutsSteam or simmer whole or halved sprouts for 3 mins, then heat a little oil in a wok and stir-fry for 3-4 mins until they colour a little. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice. You can also stir-fry shredded sprouts in the same way, they’ll cook quickly so keep moving them around the wok. Spicy stir-fried sprouts Pan-fried sproutsHeat some oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Put halved sprouts in, cut-side down, leave to sizzle for 5-10 mins, lifting them up every few mins to see how brown they are, then dot with butter, turn them over and cook for about 10 mins more until they are tinged dark brown all over. Season and scatter over some sesame seeds or flaked almonds if you like. Burnt sprouts with pomegranate & sesame Deep-fried sproutsPrepare your sprouts and dry them thoroughly. Fill a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan no more than a third full with oil and heat until it reads 190C on a thermometer or a piece of bread browns in the oil within 15 secs. Carefully lower in the sprouts and fry for 3 mins until deep golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper, then scatter with sea salt. Deep-fried Brussels with black pudding & apple Hash sproutsFry sliced sprouts (pre-cooked if you like) in a little butter until they start to brown, then add mashed potato, season and mix. Press the mixture down in the pan and brown the base. Turn over in patches and keep browning wherever needed. Bubble & squeak Gratin sproutsRoast sprouts at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 30 mins. Pour over some cheese sauce, scatter with dried breadcrumbs (and some bacon if you like) and bake for 10 mins. Roasted sprout gratin with bacon-cheese sauce BraisedTip sprouts into a pan (in a single layer if you can) and cover with chicken stock. Add a knob of butter and bring to the boil. Simmer for 8-10 mins, then rest the sprouts in the stock until needed. Three-in-one braised vegetables CreamedSteam or simmer sprouts for 3-4 mins until tender, then roughly chop. Fry a finely chopped onion in butter until tender, stir in the sprouts and add some cream and a grating of nutmeg and heat together until bubbling. RawShred raw sprouts, toss with mayonnaise or vinaigrette and use instead of cabbage in slaws. Sprout salad with citrus & pomegranate Which sprouts should I use and when are they in season?We think of sprouts as a Christmas dish but there are over 100 varieties which come into season at varying points through the late summer through until spring. Among the most popular are Abacus (ready in August and September) and Cryptus (these are like mini cabbages with frilly outer leaves, ready in December), plus dark green Petrus and Splendus that continue going strong into April. Most loose sprouts won’t be labelled but those in nets might be, you could also try growing your own if you have space.. How long do you boil brussel sprouts to blanch them?Remove any dark, thicker leaves. In a pot of boiling, salted water, blanch the brussels sprouts for 4 minutes.
Should I par boil brussel sprouts before roasting?Unlike other vegetables, Brussels sprouts can be parboiled (even a day ahead) to reduce the roasting time without hurting their texture. That means the sprouts can be popped in the oven while the meat is resting before carving. Of course, if the main course is grilled or pan-cooked, the oven will be free for roasting.
How long does it take to boil sprouts?Using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross into the base of each sprout: this will enable the centre to cook without overdoing the outside. Add the sprouts to the pan of boiling water, cover and boil for 4-5 minutes until just tender.
Do you have to parboil sprouts?Optional Extra Step: You can parboil the Brussel sprouts before roasting them if you wish, this will soften them up a little. Boil them for about 5 minutes, cool them down under cold water, pat dry and then add them to the baking tray. (I skipped this step and added them straight to the oven for roasting!)
|