Tasty Brussels Sprouts?
"Tasty Brussels Sprouts?"
When most people name a vegetable they dislike, or even hate, it seems that Brussels Sprouts come to mind more often than most. An unfortunate occurrance, actually, since they can be quite tasty if prepared correctly! One needn't steam them to death like grandma used to do, creating a mushy, brownish version of what was once a healthy veg!
Here's one of my favorite ways to eat them; it's so tasty it even converted my husband, a former brussel-hater, to convert!
-Wash the sprouts, cut the end off and then cut a figure 'X' in the bottom of the flat stem
-Place in the steam basket on top of boiling water and steam for about five minutes. Sprouts should be firm and still green.
-Run under cold water to shock them and set aside.
-Dice some shallots & garlic and saute in a cast-iron skillet with olive oil. Throw in some raw chopped pecans. Turn off the heat and let the mixture sit for 10- 15 minutes.
-When the sprouts are cool, gently peel the individual leaves away from the stem. Yes, this part is a bit tedious, but, trust me, it'll be worth it!
-Chop up what's left of each sprout once the leaves are gone and add the chopped stem to the shallot & garlic mixture. Turn the heat back on to medium and right before serving (wait til the last minute), add the delicate sprout leaves just long enough to warm them back up.
