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Sarah Cloutier

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How Brussels Sprouts Made Me a Better Person

Posted: 02/02/2013 00:00

Okay, I can hear the laughter from here... it's true... I didn't know what I was missing.

Ten years ago, I moved from Australia to London. I grew up in a very warm, humid part of the country where the humble sprout was not common on dinner tables. Being an adventurous little foodie from a young age, by the age of two or three I was eating oysters, fish and shellfish, avocado, olives, capsicum, zucchini, broccoli, spinach and pretty much anything that wasn't gluten or dairy!

I'm totally sure I would have loved brussel sprouts if they were in my gastronomic world.

Christmas in Europe was a revelation for me. I spent 34 years where Christmas was all about a meal of salads around the glorious barbecue fish and meat and then some time at the beach. One of the most delightful things about Christmas in a cold country was the introduction of brussel sprouts to the dinner table.

That was the start of a beautiful friendship that has made me a better person. I reckon that people who appreciate the humble brussels sprouts know that it's the simple things in life that are the most rewarding. When we harness the true power of the sprout and it loves us back tenfold.

They are little pockets of love and I devour them with glee. They have changed my life, not only are they high in vitamin A and C, they have large amounts of folic acid and dietary fibre - awesome for the gluten and grain free life I choose. And we all know it's the best thing on the planet to help us not to get colon cancer - what's not to love right?!

Thank you honest, scrumptious and wholesome brussels sprout - you have changed my life and I appreciate you. In truth, I feel like I have become a more understanding, compassionate and caring person since the sprout became part of my life.

I know... it's a big statement to make, but this recipe is totally the simplest, tastiest most amazing brussels sprout recipe in the entire world!

My boss, Ben, saw that I had bought some brussels sprouts and shared this with me - we just had it with gluten free chicken sausages for dinner with my world famous pesto and it was simply divine.

Trim the brussels sprouts and then slice them into discs.

Heat some olive oil in a pan and when it's hot, pop in the sprouts with some ground black pepper and a little sea salt.

The outer leaves crisp up and the inner core is soft and sweet.

This dish has changed my life, thank you Ben.

Maybe next time I will try with some pine nuts and a sprinkle of dried chilli. But nothing too fancy mind, I will honour the sprout in it's glorious simplicity!

 

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Okay, I can hear the laughter from here... it's true... I didn't know what I was missing. Ten years ago, I moved from Australia to London. I grew up in a very warm, humid part of the country where th...
Okay, I can hear the laughter from here... it's true... I didn't know what I was missing. Ten years ago, I moved from Australia to London. I grew up in a very warm, humid part of the country where th...
 
 
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04:05 AM on 02/06/2013
Our 4yr old grandson loves them and he has to be rationed lol .I love them roughly chopped i knob of butter and lots of rainbow pepper with added chopped roasted chestnuts Scrummy.
03:13 PM on 02/05/2013
As with all headlines that are posed as a question the answer is no. Although sprouts are a nice tasty veg.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Sorab Shroff
01:24 PM on 02/05/2013
Lovely recipe - thanks Sarah.
02:56 PM on 02/07/2013
you're welcome! Lovely simply served with home made hummus too ...
01:22 PM on 02/05/2013
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the leaf... (and this is a serious post). Growing brussells for ourselves on our allotment, we were told that the leaves were edible and far tastier than cabbage. Not being a fan of the average white cabbage, but preferring winter cabbage / spring greens, my wife and I decided to give the brussell leaf a go. If you like cabbage, then you will almost certainly like the Brussell leaf!
If growing them yourself, the trick is to thin each plant, once established, but not too much at a time so as not to weaken them. So now we have two veggies for the price of one! (And they freeze well if blanched)
02:21 AM on 02/06/2013
Brussells are brassicas - ie cabbage, so of course everything is edible. if you want a real treat cut out the heart of the stems - delish raw, nutty and succulent!!
12:13 PM on 02/06/2013
YUM - thanks for sharing Sabutiol and PCMyrs. I will definitely give that a try!
08:06 PM on 02/04/2013
Hello Sarah.......I'm with you. Love the Brussell Sprouts. I find them a lovely addition to a pan of roast vegies. Always a delight to get the mouth full with the Sprout in it. However, I see from some of the reader's comments, they don't agree. They can join the ranks of those who think of them as Brussell Pouts.
12:02 PM on 02/04/2013
Thanks for this blog post, - I too love Brussel Sprouts, fried, simmered, roasted, with a variety of herbs - I lightly fried them in coconut oil this morning with other veggies and they were delicious.
10:49 AM on 02/04/2013
Thanks so much for your lovely post. I had sprouts yesterday cut into discs with sesame oil black pepper and chilli flakes.Thanks for the inspiration- Delicious!! I agree it really is an appreciation of the simple things in life that brings magic to our lives
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RaiderFan13
Just Win, Baby
04:16 AM on 02/04/2013
Is that a recipe ?
Or a desperate attempt to fill digital space ?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
denspark1560
07:16 PM on 02/03/2013
What a fuss to make about a brussels sprout, is Huffpost struggling to get stories just now.
02:22 PM on 02/02/2013
I like a sprout or two too but there is a drawback, wearing a gas mask after you let one rip is probably the only way you'll not think you just ate another. Ideal in crowded lifts, tubes and other confined spaces.
08:27 PM on 02/02/2013
LOL :D hahaha i don't seem to have that issue with sprouts - lucky me and my fellow commuters!
10:14 AM on 02/03/2013
After many years of healthy living I suspect your system needs adjustment as you clearly aren't following the path of righteousness of a born and bred sprout lover, I suggest you try swallowing them whole washed down with ten pints of guiness before 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon, a nice extended sleep prior to catching that early commute and its a certainty you'll be thrown from the train. lol

I did notice a distinct lack of sprout on my two month holiday travelling the east coast of OZ so I understand about this feeling of "missing out" you have, but personally I'd swap my sprout share for a reasonable tan any day.
11:56 AM on 02/02/2013
You must live in a large well-ventilated house.
10:01 AM on 02/02/2013
The frozen ones are best
07:16 PM on 02/01/2013
Make a lovely snack eaten raw.