Cheesy Creamy Brussel Sprouts With Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak brussel sprouts before cooking? ›

The soak time tenderizes the sprouts so the middles are softer. Don't worry, they won't be soggy! I would never do that to you. If, like me, you don't mind some chew to your sprouts, you don't need to soak the Brussels sprouts prior to cooking.

In my opinion, frying brussels sprouts creates the best flavor while roasting comes in a close second. If you prolong the cooking process and/or overcook these little cabbages, they will chemically transform into sulphuric mush. The goal is to caramelize the outside while maintaining a firm and nutty interior.

The easiest and best way I know is to roast at high temperature. Trim the woody ends off the sprouts, and if they're large, cut in half. Toss in a bowl with salt, pepper, olive oil. Spread out on a sheet pan and put in a 500°F oven for 20 minutes, reaching in with a spoon or spatula to turn them over at least once.

Roasting: Toss the Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them in the oven until they are crispy and caramelized. Pan-frying: Cut the Brussels sprouts in half and pan-fry them in butter or olive oil until they are browned and tender.

Contributed by Whole Foods Market, Inc. To prepare, soak Brussels sprouts in a bowl of cold, salted water for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F.

To maximize the flat areas, which get the most crispy surface area, cut your Brussels sprouts in half. If your Brussels sprouts are very small, you can leave them whole (and if they are very large, quarter them).

Brussels sprouts are a source of fiber and may reduce inflammation. This cruciferous vegetable offers nutrients, including antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.

Your first step should always be to blanch the brussels sprouts. This is basically when they get submerged in boiling water just for a few minutes, not until they're fully cooked, but just enough to take away some of the bitterness. Blanching also softens them and preserves their beautiful bright green color.

A splash of lemon juice, or even apple cider vinegar, works wonders on bitter sprouts. Another key ingredient is fat, which helps Brussels sprouts to crisp up. This is why it's so popular to render bacon fat and cook Brussels sprouts in it, then add the bacon bits back in at the end.

Place them face down and resist the urge to move them around. A searing hot baking sheet with the brussels cut side down is the key to crispy brussel perfection.

How to add flavor to brussel sprouts? ›

You can also use frozen Brussels sprouts, either full-size or petite. Seasonings: These can include balsamic vinegar, melted butter, shredded parmesan, maple syrup or honey, mustard, Sriracha or red pepper flakes, ranch seasoning, or just olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Steaming and boiling use moist heat, and moist heat can make Brussel Sprouts mushy and stinky—not a good combo. Give them the treatment they deserve by roasting them instead.

Tips for cooking brussels sprouts

The one rule that holds true for cooking sprouts on the hob is that you should try to avoid cooking them for more than 5 minutes or the sulphurous compounds (isothiocyanates) within them will start to break down – and they will smell.

Brussel sprouts can be eaten raw, typically in a salad. But if you are cooking them then it is possible to undercook them as most people expect cooked Brussel sprouts to be firm but not crunchy. If they are still crunchy then they have been undercooked. Just don't overcook them as they are terrible when overcooked.

Soaking: Think of soaking as the initial step before actually sprouting a legume, grain, nut or seed. Many people soak beans before cooking to cut down on cooking time and reduce compounds that may cause gasiness in our digestive systems (although it's not completely necessary, it's definitely recommended).

A splash of lemon juice, or even apple cider vinegar, works wonders on bitter sprouts. Another key ingredient is fat, which helps Brussels sprouts to crisp up. This is why it's so popular to render bacon fat and cook Brussels sprouts in it, then add the bacon bits back in at the end.

However, the natural agents that protect them from early germination can wreak havoc in our digestive system. Soaking and sprouting replicates germination, which activates and multiplies nutrients (particularly Vitamins A, B, and C), neutralizes enzyme inhibitors, and promotes the growth of vital digestive enzymes.