For many, Brussels sprouts are a festive food staple that sparks strong emotions – you either adore or despise them. However, a cooking enthusiast has revealed a simple method to revolutionise the humble vegetable’s taste and texture, requiring just a few additional ingredients.
Emily, known as Emily’s Cooking on TikTok, showcased her enhanced Brussels sprouts recipe by crushing the vegetable and incorporating butter and parmesan, resulting in a golden, crunchy, and virtually unrecognisable dish, reports the Express. In a video from November, she wrote: “Golden, crispy, cheesy and just so tasty! A new way to make your Brussels sprouts this Christmas, have it as a side or snack, you won’t be disappointed.
“You can also add bacon to it, check my previous video! What you need – seasoning of your choice, Brussels sprouts, butter, grated parmesan and some baking paper!”
With only four ingredients required, this recipe can be prepared entirely in an air fryer, making it an energy-efficient option. Emily’s video has garnered over five million views, accumulating 222,200 likes and 479 comments.
Lindsey remarked: “Okay thank you for deciding what I’m bringing to Christmas for me.”
Sofia commented: “Ooooooh I love brussels sprouts. Never had them because of other people’s opinions. But damn. I’ll eat a whole tray on my own.”
Indya was wowed by the recipe, writing, “Oh my goodness, this is next level,” while another fan of the dish responded, “I made these and they were so delicious!! Adding to the Christmas dinner this year.”
Despite the enthusiasm, @hwtopsecret confessed surprise over their newfound appreciation for the vegetable: “Wait no cause …how did you know that I all of the sudden like brussel sprouts???”
Yet, the humble Brussels sprout still has its detractors, as evidenced by @CescaInTheGarden’s staunch refusal: “Nope. Nothing in the world will make me eat those devil’s baubles. My mum has tried for over 40 years.”
Echoing that sentiment, Kate disclosed her scepticism about enhancing the contentious veg, admitting: “I honestly don’t even think cheese can help Brussels sprouts.”
If you find yourself in the anti-sprout camp but looking for a way to jazz them up for the festive table, look no further than this game-changing recipe.
Smashed Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- Brussels sprouts
- Butter
- Grated parmesan
- Seasonings of your choice
Method
Start with cleaning and washing your Brussels sprouts thoroughly. Boil some water in a pot and season with salt.
Cook the Brussels sprouts until they are just tender enough. Proceed by cooling them under a run of cold water, ensuring to drain well, pat them dry with a kitchen towel, and then leave to cool off.
Next, dab some butter on the baking paper and scatter a blend of seasoning. This could include oregano, garlic, pepper, salt, cumin, paprika, your choice of all-purpose seasoning, chilli flakes, and sesame seeds – not to forget a generous serving of grated parmesan.
Now comes the fun part: lay the Brussels sprouts on the prepped baking sheet and smash each one flat using the bottom of a glass or similar object. Top them off with an additional sprinkle of parmesan and more seasoning.
Finally, bake them in an oven or air fryer at a temperature of 185°C, for 20 to 30 minutes depending on original tenderness. Aim for a delightful crunch that suits your palate.
Once cooked, you can serve it as a side dish with your roast dinner, enjoy it on its own, or pair it with any meal.