Christmas Brussel Sprouts! Easy
Brussel Sprouts, do you love them or hate them?
Christmas Brussel Sprouts, but it doesn’t have to be Christmas they are sooooo good.
We can make the sprouts tasty at any time! I promise….
Honestly give those sprouts a lil bit of attention – it’s well worth it! I just love them! Do you?
Lots of people claim they ‘hate’ them. I just don’t get it?!
Give them a break….. try them this way!
Brussel Sprouts Recipe
Long gone are those days when you were a kid and got served up overcooked mushy sprouts – oh and that smell!! Yuk.
These days we can cook them properly ‘with bite’ and pan fry them or add many many things and make these truly magnificent veggies amazing!
My recipe is with bacon, garlic and herbs – but you can add whatever you fancy
The following recipe is one of my favourite ways to cook and serve sprouts. But please please tell me what are yours?
Do you have a secret sprout recipe?
Parboiled and then panfried in olive oil, with garlic, smoky bacon and herbs – bloomin delicious!
I also love them in bubble and squeak the next day!
How to choose your Brussels?
You need to look for, bright green heads, tightly packed leaves and the smaller the sweeter is the rule.
These days you can buy them attached to their long stalk, this is good and they tend to stay fresher for longer that way.
But it’s also OK to buy them loose – just watch the Best Before end dates
How to prepare your Brussel Sprouts?
I trim away the loose, yellow or damaged leaves. Then I wash them and trim the base.
I used to cut a cross on the bottom, but I don’t these days, not sure it makes a heap of difference
Pleas don’t over cook them whatever you do or they’ll go all mushy!!
Nutritional facts of Brussel Sprouts
So what exactly are they and are they good for you? Seems so!!
Well according to Wikipedia:
Raw Brussels sprouts are:
86% water, 9% carbohydrates, 3% protein, and contain negligible fat.
In a 100 gram amount, they supply high levels (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin C (102% DV) and vitamin K (169% DV), with more moderate amounts of B vitamins, such as folate and vitamin B6; essential minerals and dietary fiber exist in moderate to low amounts
Brussels sprouts, as with broccoli and other brassicas.
They contain sulforaphane, a phytochemical under basic research for its potential biological properties.
Although boiling reduces the level of sulforaphane, neither steaming, microwave cooking, nor stir frying cause a significant loss.
Poor old Brussel Sprouts
That poor Christmas sprout! They get such a bad press and they are rich in so many good things as well as flavour!
Please give them a go. I absolutely adore them.
Tastes change so I ask you one more time to just do it!!
Ha Ha
Other Christmas Food Recipes
I’ve also written a little 1-10 for a Stress Free Christmas why nit have a read – it might help xxx
My Perfect Christmas Parsnips are so delicious and also very easy and not just for Christmas or Thanksgiving
Roasted with honey and oil (and a tad of butter) they are truly delicious
Look at them, have a go I promise you won’t be dissapointed
These special Rainbow Carrots are so easy to make and perfect for Christmas as you can use the heat in the oven!
Delicious
You must too try my lovely stuffing recipe – go on have a look, it’s almost a meal in itself!
Oh and if you’re looking for a Christmas Day Canapé?
You can’t go far wrong with my Smoked Salmon ones served on Rye Bread, the most perfect Christmas nibble or starter!
Look at them!!
Just make sure you enjoy those Christmas Brussel Sprouts!!
Love Clare xx
And for Boxing Day
Why not try my delicious and super easy Leftover Turkey Biryani
The perfect way to use up that turkey and I’m not sure about you, but I always fancy some spice after Christmas
Big Love Cx
The Christmas Brussel Sprouts!
Ingredients
- 500 g Sprouts trimmed
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 clove Garlic crushed
- 1 Tablespoon chopped Parsley or Sage
- 6-8 Slices Smoked bacon or pancetta diced or strips of Bacon
- Good knob Butter
Instructions
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, tip in the sprouts and par boil for 8-10 Minutes / or steam them (I do) make sure they are still firm. Drain and leave
- In a large frying pan add Olive oil and garlic and fry off for 1/2 minute - add the sliced bacon and fry until almost crispy
- Throw in the Brussels and heat, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes
- Finally add the chopped Parsley or Sage and Butter, serve immediately - yum!
Nicky Greenacre
They look yummy. Def do them for Christmas. The only thing i wouldnt use is olive oil or a knob of butter as it irritates my IBS.
Carol Law
Look delicious Clare as does your stuffing and canapes. I just prepare my sprouts as you described, boil quickly to retain green appearance add salt and pepper, maybe a little butter at end. I like a little advacaadot pear with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Also good on a bagel? Where do you get your rye bread from, please?
Sue
Just done sprouts your way and everybody loved them. Not a scrap left in the dish. Thank you so simple and delicious
Clare x
Fantastic to hear x
paulette dunsby
I do mine like yours but with bacon and chestnuts.