# Need help finding a Brussels Sprout recipe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147 "2016-12-19T17:00:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/21 "2016-12-20T17:36:48Z")
I like to pan fry a steak, then saute lightly steamed, halved sprouts in the steak juice with some garlic and sliced onion and a little lemon. Optional is a little wine & mushrooms if you have them. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/22 "2016-12-20T19:45:59Z")
Cut into quarters, toss in olive oil and spread in a roasting pan, sprinkle with sea salt, roast until caramelized. My absolute favorite way to eat them. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/23 "2016-12-20T20:01:13Z")
The secret to cooking Brussels sprouts is simple: size them. You simply can’t cook a collection that ranges from marble to golf ball size and expect good results. Either pick out a complete bag that are all the same size (whatever size is most prevalent in the bin), or cut only the ones of a given size from a stalk. You’d be amazed how much this improves the results, even for simple steaming. Love them, by the way, just plain or with a tad of butter. No need to get fancy with them. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/24 "2016-12-20T21:58:02Z")
I like mine shaved, dressed with lemon juice, salt and pepper, and some dried cranberries mixed in . Simple and tasty. I have no objection to them roasted either, but given my druthers, I’ll go with the first option. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/25 "2016-12-20T21:58:31Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Cut into quarters, toss in olive oil and spread in a roasting pan, sprinkle with sea salt, roast until caramelized. My absolute favorite way to eat them. This is my preferred way (though I cut in half). Usually with a bit of garlic, too. Much more than that and they’re no longer Brussels sprouts but rather vehicles for chees, bacon, cream, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/26 "2016-12-21T00:14:41Z")
Brussels sprouts’ size doesn’t make that big a difference to me, but the tastiest I’ve had are the small ones I grow myself (just harvested a couple big bags from my plants after a few hard frosts but before subzero cold had a chance to do them in). Maybe the enormous ones grown in California are secretly stuffed full of brassica growth hormones. :eek: I’ll look into some of these recipes (frankly, bacon fat has the potential to improve almost anything). My easy option involves steaming them until they’re a nice al dente consistency, having first added olive oil and spices (basil and the right amount of red cayenne pepper are critical). A sauteed dish with sweet peppers and garlic also works nicely. There may be a genetic component for those that dislike them\* (from the article it seems far from a proven link), but I suspect a major reason involves dislike based on cultural/familial conditioning or just inexplicable personal proclivities. \*“I have the TAS2r38 gene” sounds more socially acceptable than “I’m a picky eater”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blisters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Blisters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisters)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/27 "2016-12-21T01:52:56Z")
This might be similar enough to help Christmas dinner…I made it a few weeks ago and would suggest not blanching (or not as long anyway) because they were too mushy. > **[Thanksgiving Side Dish: Creamy Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Gratin with...](https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/102926/thanksgiving-side-dish-creamy-brussels-sprouts-gratin-and-bacon-gratin-with-shallots-and-gruyere)** > > Flecked with bacon and oozing with Gruyère cheese, Brussels sprouts have never been so extravagantly presented as in this over-the-top gratin. A perfect accompaniment to any winter holiday meal. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/28 "2016-12-22T20:47:26Z")
The New York Times just printed 5 Brussels sprout recipes and had 18 with Thanksgiving. They look great. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147/29 "2016-12-22T21:01:40Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I like eating Brussels sprouts pretending they’re whole heads of cabbage and I am a giant. For what it’s worth, this contribution from waaaay out there made me laugh an unreasonable amount. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-finding-a-brussels-sprout-recipe/775147.md?page=1)