5 Recipes That Will Have You Loving Brussels Sprouts

It's not uncommon to hear tales of trauma, caused by too many blandly steamed Brussels sprouts in childhood. But it actually doesn't take much to turn these controversial mini cabbages into a dinnertime favourite. As they're a frequent arrival in our Autumn Wonky Boxes, we're here to set the story straight and help you savour our Sprouts!

_{Where do Brussels sprouts come from?}

Brussels sprouts are a cool-weather crop that grow best in temperate regions with a consistently cool climate, like Canterbury, Waikato, and Southland.

So far this season, we've been working with Alan and Andrea in Palmerston North, rescuing their "super smalls". As these tech savy growers use machines to carefully slice all sprouts from their stalks more efficiently, this means the ones that are rejected by traditional retailers for being on the smaller size are already rearing to go and in desperate need of a home. So we jumped in to add them to your Wonky Boxes!

Brussels sprouts are rich in antioxidants, high in Vitamin K which helps builds strong bones, and they're a great source of fibre (your digestion will thank you!).

And if you're after a Fun Fact to sprout while serving Brussels at your next dinner party, they are named after their original birthplace in the 16th century, Belgium. That's why the correct spelling is 'Brussels' and not 'brussel'.

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_{Ready to get cooking?}

Now on to the good stuff! Here's a list of our top Brussels sprout recipes to inspire your culinary creativity when you find them in your Wonky Box. Whether you prefer them chopped into a salad, roasted, or smothered in cheese, there's a recipe bound to impress.

_{1. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon}

_INGREDIENTS:

• 8-10 Brussels Sprouts
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 6 bacon slices, cut into 1-inch pieces
• Salt & Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C
   
2. Clean and trim the Brussels sprouts, cutting any particularly large heads in half. Don't worry if some of the outer leaves fall off - they'll get extra crispy and delicious!
   
3. Drizzle the Brussels sprouts with olive oil in a large bowl and toss to coat evenly.
   
4. Spread the Brussels sprouts out in a single layer on a large sheet pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then evenly distribute the bacon pieces on top.
   
5. Roast in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, turning the sprouts over halfway through the cooking time until they are golden and lightly caramelised.
   
6. Serve immediately and enjoy

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2. Lemon and Caper Butter Beans with Brussels Sprouts

This vegetarian-friendly side dish is ready in under half an hour and is still deliciously hearty and flavourful, with the zesty lemon and caper sauce adding the perfect zing to the caramelised sprouts.

_INGREDIENTS:

• 200g Brussels sprouts
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 40g butter
• 1 Tbsp capers
• Zest and juice of ½ lemon
• 1 tin butter beans (390g)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Give the Brussels sprouts a rinse to remove any dirt from the outer leaves, then cut them in half. Slice the garlic.
2. Rinse and drain the butter beans.
3. Heat a large frying pan with oil. Once the oil is hot, add the sprouts to the pan, cut side down. Leave them to char for about 4 minutes. Once they’ve browned and caramelised on the cut side, flip them over and move to one side of the pan.
4. Add half the butter to the pan. Once the butter has melted, add the garlic and capers and cook for 1 -2 minutes until nice and fragrant.
5. Add the drained butter beans to the pan, season with salt and pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes, mixing with the Brussels sprouts.
6. Push the beans and sprouts mixture to one side of the pan, increase the heat slightly and add the remaining butter. As soon as it’s melted, squeeze in the lemon juice and cook for 30 seconds or until it starts to brown slightly.
7. Remove from the heat and mix the lemon butter through the beans and sprouts. Add the lemon zest and season to taste.
8. Transfer to a serving plate and pour over any excess butter left in the pan. Yum!

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_{3. Shredded Sprouts, Apples, Almond & Pearl Barley Salad}

If you're craving a fresh fix for your Brussels, you have to try this hearty, healthy Autumnal salad. The apples add a delicious burst of sweetness, and every bite is bound to have a nice crunchy texture.

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_{4. Brussels Sprouts "Wings"}

Looking for a vegetarian snack or side dish recipe? Bread-crumbing the Brussels sprouts is one of our favourite ways to add texture and turn Sprouts into an indulgent delight. Particularly good if you've got Brussels looking a bit bummed in the back of the fridge!

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_{5. Blue Cheese Baked Brussels Sprouts}

Cheese lovers, this one is for you! Our creamiest Brussels Sprouts creation yet, perfect as a cosy side dish in Autumn. Don't let the blue cheese put you off either, you can tweak the recipe to use your favourite melty cheese.

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So next time you get the chance to savour some Sprouts, we hope you'll do so with gusto and spread the wonky word about this underrated Autumn veg.