The Meatwave

Crispy Mustard Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Mustard Brussels Sprouts View Recipe

I never knew I liked brussels sprouts until I grilled them. I can say that about so many foods as grilling has been the medium that's taken me from a sheltered to a serious eater, but this goes double true for sprouts.

While growing up, I don't think I ever once encountered brussels sprouts at home. With an inherited aversion, I assumed I must hate them too. This aversion didn't end when I decided to try them either; I remember my first taste being one of bitterness and disgust paired with a feeling of comfort that avoidance thus far was well justified. Then one day I decided to take them on again, this time on the grill, and I what I learned surprised me and transformed the way I look at brussels sprouts forever.

Brussel Sprouts

So why did I hate these little cabbages so? Well, I'm not a fan of bitter foods, and the first sprouts I had were boiled and tossed with a little butter, salt, and pepper, which seemed to bring on the bitter with little redeeming factors in my mind. So that notion of brussels sprouts stuck for a long time, until I started seeing beautiful sprouts that look crisp around the edges and something I wanted to eat, which had me second guessing my initial aversion and led me to the grill to create the sprouts of desire.

Brussel Sprouts

Seeing as I wasn't a fan of sprouts alone, I considered adding a little something extra to bake in flavors I knew I would like. For this, I used a mustard sauce I had seen on a blog, which was applied to the sprouts both pre and post-grilling.

Brussel Sprouts

Since brussels sprouts have a dense core, they won't cook fully on the grill in the time it takes to crisp the outsides. To combat this, I fist gave them a cooking kick-start in the microwave, which was quick and simple.

Brussel Sprouts

Then it was off to the grill, where the mustard soaked sprouts quickly singed around the edges and became incredibly beautiful with a deep green interrupted by blackened spots. Once grilled to my liking, the were put back into the bowl with the mustard sauce and tossed and enjoyed.

Brussel Sprouts

I fell in love almost instantaneously. The bitterness seemed to have mellowed, or maybe it was just that the charred outsides adding so much great flavor that I didn't mind the bitterness so much. I really enjoyed the mustard coating as well, which compounded the flavor profile into something rich and complex.

My wife wasn't as big of a fan though. Her take was the mustard added bitter to bitter, but I chose to ignore that because I know if I continue listening to other people's excuses of why they don't like something, they can also become mine, and it's that exact thought process that led me to consider brussels sprouts a food non grata for over 30 years. These sprouts made me so happy that this is no longer the case.

Print Recipe

Crispy Mustard Brussels Sprouts

  • Yield Serves 4
  • Prep 15 Minutes
  • Cook 10 Minutes
  • Total 25 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound brussels sprouts
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (I used Grey Poupon Country Dijon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Procedure

  1. Rinse Brussels sprouts. Trim off stem and pull off dark outer leaves. Score an X into bottom of the sprout 1/4 inch deep, then split in half. Place brussels sprouts in a large microwave safe bowl with 1/4 cup of water. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 4 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together olive oil, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Remove the brussels sprouts microwave and drain. Pour mustard sauce over sprouts and toss to thoroughly coat.
  3. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Using tongs, place brussels sprouts on the grill, keeping the bowl nearby with the sauce reserved. Grill until browned and slightly charred on both sides, flipping half way through cooking, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
  4. Remove brussels sprouts to the bowl with reserved mustard sauce. Toss gently to coat and serve immediately.

Adapted from The Cooking Photographer.

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Comments

  1. Nate @ House of Annie That's a good trick, to microwave them first before grilling. You do have to be careful about not charring them too much. I think it would be great if some bacon bits were added at the final mustard dressing toss.

  2. Chris Well maybe that will fix my aversion. I tried them in a skillet last year for my first time ever eating them. I tried to keep an open mind. Ick.

    I will give your mustardy sprouts a try.

  3. Jeff We tried those tonight and they were great! I felt much the same as you did about Brussel's sprouts until very recently, when we did these, which happened to agree with your commenter's suggestion above! http://www.thetasteplace.com/2011/12/21/brussels-sprouts-are-better-with-bacon/

    We're happy to add yours to our repertoire!

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