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[Closed] Sprouts, those little green orbs of division

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Love 'em or hate 'em, they will be appearing on my table on 'that' day, but I'm wondering what to do with them this year.
Usually I par boil them and then finish them off in a wok by adding smoked bacon soaked in sherry, chopped chestnuts and garlic. This is really quite nice, but what do you do with your sprouts? I fancy a change


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:37 am
 j_me
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Slice them really thinly and do exactly that (but without the sherry, might try that this year)


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:41 am
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Boil em to death, then serve them with a splat on the plate. Traditional, innit.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:42 am
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Send 'em to me, I love 'em

Smokey bacon/lardons are good, also nuts, mind has gone so I forget which, I know its not almonds or peanuts though... will look out the recipe... pine nuts may work


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:44 am
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I've got mine on now. Cant bear the thought of underdone sprouts with christmas dinner!


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:45 am
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It's a yes from me.

Boiled to slightly al dente, drain, chuck in a generous knob of butter and black peppr to taste. Serve with boiled ham. Yum.

M&S used to do a side dish of sprout and chestnut in a rich gravy sort of sauce. Pierce lid and nuke for 3 mins and then just eat, would keep me happy. Not so the wife to be fair. Half brick needed on each corner of the duvet.....


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:47 am
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Chestnuts, thats them, good call theotherjonv.

Slightly al dente stops the farts so make sure they are overcooked when the mother in law comes round, the embarrassment gives double fun 🙂


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:51 am
 MSP
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[url= http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article5370265.ece ]People who like sprouts lack taste![/url]


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:52 am
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Stir fry'em for a couple of minutes.
Cut in half. Ginger, garlic, sugar, splash of water and some nice tamari. If you live near the sea throw in a handful of dulse (That's the red flimsy seaweed). Yum.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 11:59 am
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I love them. Simply cooked or tarted up - always nice.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:01 pm
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Mmmm, sprouts for lunch today at work:

DUO OF VENISON WITH ROSEMARY
Sprouts/Chicory/potato tart

All for the princely sum of €3.45


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:02 pm
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cranberry, where the hell do you work?


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:13 pm
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more to the point, can i get there in the next hour and have you got any jobs for immediate start?


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:18 pm
 emsz
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LOL I was having this argument with my g/f last night! She loves them I can't stand them! Theres gonna be a riot at Xmas if she thinks I'm having them anywhere near my food. Same goes for parsnips, yuck


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:32 pm
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Parsnips are the work of the devil, but sprouts cooked properly are a joy - the key is not to over cook them


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:36 pm
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Boiled to slightly al dente, drain, chuck in a generous knob of butter and black peppr to taste. Serve with boiled ham. Yum.

Anything else is just plain wrong! 😉


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:45 pm
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In our uni mtb club for the xmas meal we each cook something and then all meet up in the same place. Last year one of our guys cooked the most amazing sprouts I've ever had, no idea how he did them though 🙁


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:49 pm
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my 3yr old daughters favourite vegetable! "Theyre like tiny mini cabbages daddy"

I like em simple tbh tho lardons would be nice if theres no veggies around for xmas dinner.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 12:50 pm
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where the hell do you work?

Not sure I can tell you that, but I can tell you that the venison was every bit as nice as the game brochette was yesterday. 🙂


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 1:42 pm
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Parsnips are the work of the devil

Stone the blasphemer !


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 1:43 pm
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Once boiled add a knob of butter, a sliced chili and squeeze some orange over, then in the oven for a bit. Tasty.

Bubble and squeak in the mornings too. Tastier.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 1:53 pm
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Ours out of the garden have been really yummy this year.

I put one or two into a home made veg soup. Also they're nice in a stir fry if sliced up finely.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 2:22 pm
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Love em. Just willing the ones on my allotment to be ready for Christmas - not looking too hopeful at the moment, don't know why they're struggling, next door plot's are much better


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 3:10 pm
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Parsnips are ace!

Sprouts finely sliced, leeks, garlic, chestnuts and peas slow fried in butter with liberal amounts of black pepper and a good splash of Worcester sauce.

Marvellous!


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 3:35 pm
 MSP
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Why does everyone who loves sprouts smother them with various other flavours.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 3:39 pm
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parsnips!

sprouts!

carrots!

spuds!

turkey... meh.

crimbo is all about the veg for me.

(and cheese with fruitcake)


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 5:22 pm
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MSP: I reiterate my earlier post.

Boil to slightly al dente, drain, chuck in a generous knob of butter and black pepper to taste

This is to sprout law what 32:16 is to singlespeeding.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 5:26 pm
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Tried some roast brussel sprouts in Oct - very nice indeed. Peel and toss them with salt, black pepper and oil.
Takes about 40 minutes in a medium oven.
Every 10 minutes or so turn them to get an even browning.

Although i'm considering use sesame oil for additional flavour.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 5:34 pm
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I used to hate them but since I discovered they make me fart like a steam engine I look forward to their appearance on my plate on xmas day 😈


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 6:04 pm
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they're like a solid little green farts


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 6:12 pm
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A fresh as poss, preferably just of the stem thingy that they grow on.

Peel off outer layer and chop off bottom bit, then eat...

...raw.

Has to be done! 🙂


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 6:20 pm
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Sprout fans. See if you can get a hold of sprout tops - the leaves that grow off the top of the plant. Just steam them and season them and they're good to go.

Obviously these are easy enough to get hold of if you are growing your own sprouts.

My local farmers' market on the IOW sells them.

They're magic. Like self-buttering cabbage. Really tender and sweet, and that hint of a sulphurous, farty tang that puts a lot of people off actual sprouts themselves is not quite so evident.


 
Posted : 26/11/2010 9:54 pm
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See Hugh Fearney etc's recipe in the Times Mag today: creamed with chopped bacon. Little sis did something similar a couple of years ago. Could have eaten a plateful.


 
Posted : 27/11/2010 7:19 pm
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I absolutely love them.

However, they taste their best when they are cooked until completely soft. It is only in this state that they release all their lovely sweetness.
This sweetness is completely missing when they are cooked al dente.

I know this is the opposite of what is often recommended, but trust me it's the best way.

Yummmmmmmmmmmy!


 
Posted : 28/11/2010 1:16 am
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ohh man! There were actual fights over the last brussel sprouts in asda last year. I am determined to watch these fights this year. I really want to see a punch up over some vegetables!


 
Posted : 28/11/2010 1:38 am
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boil - sprouts, potatoes
fry - streaky bacon + red onion

mash up spuds so there smooth with hefty amounts of salted butter
add cheese of choice (dont be shy)
throw in sprouts and mash roughly with a fork
cut up bacon and mix in *stir the onion in now*

add pepper and serve next to a roast chicken or white fish


 
Posted : 28/11/2010 1:39 am
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Al dente & drained. Then in a frying pan fry some smoked lardons with same sized pieces of a good quality butchers black pudding (not pre-cut tesco shite), once both slightly crispy, mix with sprouts, salt & fresh black pepper and fat out of pan. Really really good with the black pud.


 
Posted : 28/11/2010 3:09 am
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I like them best boiled in slightly salted water until perfectly al-dente, tossed in a little olive oil.........

and then straight in the bin. Evil little green balls of vileness.


 
Posted : 28/11/2010 12:53 pm