Oven-roasted Brussels sprouts

The Brussels sprout is a cabbage that is grown for its healthy, edible buds. The buds grow on a long thick stalk, and have tighthly packed leaves, like miniature cabbages. They originated around the mediteranean, and sometime between the 5^th and 13^th century made their way to the Brussels region in current-day Belgium. This is why they are referred to as "Brussels sprouts" in many languages (NL: Brusselse spruiten, spruitkool, spruitjes; F: choux de Bruxelles; S: Brysselkål; D: Brüsseler Sprossen, Brüsseler Kohl, Rosenkohl; I: cavolini di Bruxelles; Afrikaans: Brusselspruit). They are a winter vegetable, and need to be exposed to frost to develop their sweetness. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom each account for about a third of the world's sprout production.

Two Brussels sprout stalks

The sprouts are typically about 2-4 cm (1-1.5 inch) in diameter. There are three official size categories: small (18-23 mm; primarily Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg, Norway, UK), medium (23-30 mm; Germany, Ireland, Finland, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy) and large (30-41 mm; USA, Sweden, Switzerland). Personally, I prefer the small and medium sized ones.

The taste of Brussels sprouts is actually milder than that of their cousins broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, and plain cabbage. Yet there are people who absolutely dislike them!? This is typically caused by utter incompetence of the cook, who simply overcooks (boils) the sprouts. This makes them soft (yuck!), and they develop a strong flavor and sulfuric odor. Like all vegetables (and pasta), they should still have a "bite" when cooked. Boiling or steaming sprouts to death (as with all vegetables) completely destroys their nutritional value and texture. Don't! A common way to cook them to bring out the flavor without destroying them is roasting.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 25 minutes
Makes 4 servings

Latest update: 14 September 2021 (added note at end)

INGREDIENTS

750 grams (1 lbs) Brussels sprouts, cleaned and halved lengthwise
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Optional: 450 grams (1 lb) fresh mushrooms, stems removed, sliced
Optional: 100 grams (1/4 lb) lean bacon, diced
Optional: 100 grams (1/4 lb) grated cheese, e.g., Gruyère
Salt & freshly ground pepper

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

Large baking sheet or tray, preferably non-stick
Two spatulas, preferably wooden (to turn over the sprouts on the baking sheet)
Optional (if serving with mushrooms and/or bacon bits): large frying pan

PREPARATION / DIRECTIONS

Pre-heat the oven to 190 °C (375 ºF), with circulation fan
If serving with mushrooms, fry the slices in some vegetable oil over medium heat until dark golden (and somewhat shriveled)
If serving with bacon bits, fry the bits - no need to add any grease - until browed and crispy
Spread the halved sprouts over a baking sheet or tray, sprinkle with the vegetable oil, and "massage" to coat the sprouts with the oil
Alternatively, you can oil & massage the halved sprouts in a separate bowl and then spread them out on the baking sheet
Sprinkle with some salt and pepper
Place the baking sheet at the center of the oven and bake/roast for 20 minutes (or until sprouts begin to turn brown), then briefly remove the baking sheet from th eoven, turn over the sprouts with spatulas, and put back into the oven for 5 minutes
Large sprouts may take 5 minutes longer, both before and after turning the sprouts
Briefly remove the baking sheet from the oven, push the sprouts closer together, sprinkle them with balsamic vinegar, and put back into the oven.
If serving with mushrooms, add them now to the sprouts, to re-heat them
Bake for another 5 minutes
If serving with grated cheese and/or bacon bits, sprinkle those over the sprouts and bake for another couple of minutes

Baking tray with sprouts cut in haf

Sprinkled with vegetable oil and "massaged"

Baked for about 20 minutes - note the shrinkage!

Balsamic vinegar sprinkled over the hot sprouts

Some grated cheese sprinkled over half the sprouts

NOTES

If you prefer the sprouts "crispy on the outside, soft on the inside" (or you want to expedite the baking process): pre-cook the cut sprout pieces in the microwave oven for 3 minutes, before oiling and baking them in the oven.