Sprouts the Marmite of the veggie world!

Brussels sprouts are unique creatures. When cooked poorly, they can give off a strongly sulphurous aroma that many find unpleasant. But if you can crack through that aroma and release the natural sweetness hiding underneath, then you're rewarded with one of the most delicious vegetables around.

J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

I love sprouts and will happily eat them plain, boiled, roasted stir fried or steamed however, I’m aware many people aren’t quite so enthusiastic! For me, sprouts are at their best at their best right now, I love the big, fat juicy ones however, even die-hard sprout enthusiasts like myself get a bit bored with plain old boiled or steamed sprout and I know there are plenty of people out there who are yet to be converted!

This post is an attempt to get more people to eat more sprouts and to be a bit more adventurous cooking them! Here’s three easy recipes that will hopefully convert at least a few of you into sprout fanciers.

Now I realise these recipes aren’t for everyone, I know I will not convert everyone to the wonders of sprouts, (and I know that for some the idea of licking paint will be preferable to eating my Pan-Fried Sprouts with Blue Cheese and Walnuts), but if you only try one of these recipes, make the last one… it’s my favourite and guaranteed to raise an eyebrow of even the most ardent sprout hater!

Stir Fried Sprouts with Ginger and Chili

An oriental take on sprouts? In this recipe sprouts are quartered and stir-fried with chilli, ginger and garlic, then I add soy sauce, sesame oil and a few sesame seeds for garnish. The result is AMAZING. Frying sprouts brings out a lovely nuttiness that you just don’t get from boiling or steaming them, and the Asian flavours really compliment the sprouts well. Sounds unusual, I know, but it really works. Don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself – it literally only takes 10 minutes!

Ingredients

· 250 g Brussels sprouts quartered

· Half a fresh red chilli sliced

· 2 cm fresh ginger sliced

· 1 tablespoon wok oil or rapeseed/sunflower oil

· 2 cloves of garlic sliced

· 1 tablespoon sesame oil

· 1 tablespoon soy sauce

· A few sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

1. Cut your sprouts into quarters and your ginger, garlic and chilli into thin slices. Drizzle a tablespoon of sunflower oil into a frying pan and add the sprouts, ginger, garlic and chilli. Stir fry on a medium/high heat for 3 minutes.

2. After 3 minutes, reduce the heat down low and add the soy sauce and sesame oil. Toss together and fry for two more minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

3. Serve with noodles or rice or as part of a mixture of Chinese dishes. Or you could make this a more substantial dish by adding some tenderstem broccoli, tofu and green beans.

Pan Fried Sprouts with Chorizo and Almonds

Fancy your Brussels sprouts with a Spanish twist this year? Why not try Pan Fried Sprouts with Chorizo and Almonds! Gorgeously tasty and utterly easy peasy, this three-ingredient sprout recipe can be on your table in under 15 minute and you only need one pan!

Ingredients

· 300 g sprouts halved (or quartered if large)

· 100 g blanched almonds left whole

· 100 g chorizo diced

· 100 ml boiling hot water from the kettle

Instructions

1. Put the chorizo in a large non-stick frying pan and cook over a medium-high heat for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Add the sprouts and almonds and fry for 5 minutes stirring frequently, then add 100ml of boiling hot water, turn down the heat a little and cook for 3-5 more minutes or until sprouts are cooked through to your liking and there is no more water left.

Pan Fried Sprouts with Leek and Bacon

I’ve saved the best till last. This is my all-time favourite sprout dish. It is so delicious – I could honestly eat a whole pan-full. The sprouts and leeks are pan-fried in butter before adding delicious salty bacon or lardons. I use the cute little packs of lardons from the supermarket which are perfect for this dish.

Ingredients

· 30 g butter

· 180 g leeks sliced thinly (4mm ish)

· 180 g sprouts sliced thinly (4mm ish)

· 90 g bacon diced (or use ready prepared lardons – I highly recommend this!!)

· Black Pepper

Instructions

1. Melt the butter over a low heat. When the butter is melted add in the sliced leeks and sprouts. Stir to coat on melted butter then put a lid on and cook over a gentle heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Meanwhile, fry the bacon / lardons in a separate pan for 5 minutes over a medium-high heat, stirring until golden brown.

3. When the leeks and sprouts are done, toss them in with the lardons and mix together to get the vegetables coated in the bacon juice. Sprinkle with black pepper and serve.

4. Serve as part of a roast dinner or just with a big pile of mashed potatoes for a quick and tasty supper

Three very different dishes that I hope will resonate with you, give one of them a go, what have you got to lose!

What’s on this week?

Head & Eyes – LeLUTKA Head Fleur 2.5

Hair – TRUTH Kitten - Rigged

Skin – [the Skinnery] Karima (LeLutkaEVO) honey

Body, Hands & Feet – Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V5.2 + [ session ] BOM Addons

Ears – ^^Swallow^^ Urban Ears

AO – Vista Animations *HUD 5.34* - NINA BENTO AO CURVY V1.2

Shape – [the Skinnery] Karima (LeLutkaEVOFleur) Shape - Slightly Modified

Nails – alaskametro "Holly" Glitter Nailpolish Appliers

Face Piercings – ^^Swallow^^ Indira

Rings – Real Evil **RE** Festive Rings - Maitreya

Dress – Blueberry - Demi - Long Dress - Maitreya

Jacket – United Colours Merry Jacket Red Maitreya @ this round of Equal10

Boots – Eudora3D Nell Boots (Maitreya)

Pictures taken at the Ever Beautiful Winter Moon