If you have a love-hate relation with cooked Brussels Sprouts and trying to change it to only love, well, you shouldn’t miss this recipe! Smashed Brussels Sprouts is a fantastic way to enjoy Brussels Sprouts without any mushiness involved. These mini-cabbages are jam-packed with health benefits and have a sweet and nutty flavor.

If you cook them properly, you will really enjoy their unique taste; so if you are one of those who can’t stand this vegetable, you should try this Brussels sprouts recipe. Also, try Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts And Sweet Potatoes And Vegan Brussels Sprouts Casserole.

What Is Smashed Brussels Sprouts?

Smashed Brussels sprouts are a delicious dish that you can serve alongside so many different dishes. It is made from seasoned Brussels sprouts that are smashed into disks.

This technique results in crispy Brussels sprouts that are different from the regular mushy texture of cooked Brussels sprouts, and instead are crunchy, crispy, and flavorful.

Smashed Brussels Sprouts are crispy, crunchy, flavorsome, healthy, and easy to cook. It is an exciting way to enjoy the vegetable, and you can serve it as a snack alongside your favorite dip or as a side dish as well.

Either way, this dish is different from the traditionally cooked Brussels sprouts. Try this recipe at home, and I am sure you will fall in love with it!

How To Choose Brussels Sprouts?

When choosing Brussels sprouts, you have to keep in mind the following things:

• Color: Make sure their color is fresh dark green. Avoid Brussels sprouts that have a yellowish color. It is a sign that they are aged. As a result, their flavor will be more on the bitter side. Furthermore, also keep an eye on the dark brown or black spots. It is a clear indication that they will have insects or worms.
• Size: When buying Brussels sprouts, make sure they are of equal size. You don’t want to buy larger Brussels sprouts, because they will have a bitter flavor. Therefore, look for smaller ones, as their taste will be on the sweeter side. Also, even sizing will result in even cooking.
• Texture: When you press them slightly with your thumb, the Brussels sprouts should be firm. If they are mushy or soft, it means they are either rotten or bruised.

How To Smash Brussels Sprouts?

Smashing Brussels sprouts is a technique that results in crispy Brussels sprouts. This makes them a lot thinner and allows the heat to penetrate the vegetable easily. As a result, you get a kind of deconstructed vegetable that is crisped up and doesn’t have the soft interior as it would typically have.

For smashing the Brussels sprouts, all you have to do is boil them so that they are soft. Next, you have to place them in the ice bath to cool the process. Once they are cool, place them on a kitchen towel to dry them.

When they are all nice and dry, season them and place them on a baking tray. Now comes the fun part! You can use a jar or a heavy glass. Place the jar on the Brussels sprouts and apply pressure, and that’s it! Smashed Brussels sprouts are ready to be cooked in the oven.

Smashed Brussels Sprouts Recipe

• Brussels Sprouts: The main hero of this dish is the Brussels Sprouts. You can get them from any grocery store or vegetable stand.You can buy fresh or frozen Brussels sprouts, I like to get fresh ones when they are in season but frozen will do fine. They should also be even in size.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is perfect for bringing out the crisp in the final products.
• Italian Seasonings: Italian seasoning is delicious. It is made from a combination of dried Italian herbs like thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, etc. and it adds tones of flavors to the dish. You can easily get Italian seasoning from any grocery store. Or, you can also add the dried herbs separately.
• Garlic powder: Garlic powder adds a savory flavor to the dish.
• Nutritional yeast flakes: Nutritional yeast flakes are a fantastic ingredient that brings out the natural flavor of the dish. It gives the dish a depth of flavors.
• Seasoning: Although salt and pepper are enough, if you are looking for heat and spice, you can add paprika or cayenne powder as well.

How To Cook Smashed Brussels Sprouts?

Cooking Smashed Brussels Sprouts is super easy; you can cook them ahead of time for your dinner party. Here are a few easy steps you have to follow:

Step 1: You can start by rinsing the Brussels sprouts.

Step 2: Boil water in a pot over the stove. Add salt in it, and once it starts to boil, add Brussels sprouts. Let them simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes until they are tender. Smaller Brussels sprouts take less time to cook, so make sure the Brussels sprouts are even in size for even cooking.

Step 3: Once they are done, drain them and place them instantly in an ice bath. It will stop the cooking process and will retain the crunch and color of the vegetable.

Step 4: Once they are cool, take them out of the ice bath and place them on a kitchen towel so they can drain.

Step 5: Place the Brussels sprouts in a large bowl and add olive oil, along with all the dry seasonings. Mix well until every Brussels sprout is coated with seasonings.

Step 6: Place them on a parchment-lined baking tray, and make sure there is a little space between each sprout so that they can bake thoroughly.

Step 7: Using the base of a glass jar or drinking glass, smash the sprouts by placing the glass on top of them and applying pressure. They will turn into a disk, about ½ inches thick.

Step 8: Place the baking tray in a preheated oven at 350℉ for about 15 minutes.

Step 9: Once the Brussels sprouts get a nice golden brown color and are crispy, remove the tray from the oven and serve.

How To Store Smashed Brussels Sprouts?

The thing about these Smashed Brussels Sprouts is that you can easily store them in the refrigerator by placing them in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. Therefore, they are among these dishes that you can happily prepare in advance. Whether it is a dinner party or a meal plan for the rest of the office lunch, Smashed Brussels Sprouts are a good option.

Furthermore, you can also place these in an air-tight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. However, keep in mind when you thaw them, they will turn soggy. So, you will have to cook them in the oven again to retain their crispiness. Bake at 350℉ for about 5 – 7 minutes or until crispy.

What To Serve With Smashed Brussels Sprouts?

Smashed Brussels Sprouts are pretty versatile since you can serve these as a snack or a side to your main course. Because of their crispy texture, they are a better choice for those who don’t like the mushy texture of cooked Brussels sprouts. Here are a few ideas on what to serve with Smashed Brussels Sprouts:

• Stir fry: Vegan stir fry is simply delicious. Inspired by Chinese flavors, you can pair it up with Smashed Brussels Sprouts to create a fusion.
• Rice: Whether it’s garlic rice, coconut rice, or cauliflower rice, you can pair it up with Smashed Brussels Sprouts.
• Cauliflower steak: Jerk Cauliflower Steak and Smashed Brussels Sprouts are so good together.
• Quinoa: enjoy healthy quinoa with Smashed Brussels Sprouts.
• Cheese sauce: You can serve these Smashed Brussels Sprouts alongside vegan cheese sauce as a dip. It is a perfect snack.
• Mashed potatoes: What is better than creamy smooth mashed potatoes? They go well with everything!
• Ital Stew: this stew is very delicious to serve as well, or Smothered Tofu.

Note:

You can use frozen Brussel Sprouts to prepare this dish. You don’t need to thaw the Brussels sprouts, just bring water to a boil over medium heat in a large pot. Add Brussel sprouts and bring to a boil, cook until tender. Then proceed as you would with fresh Brussels sprouts. See How To Freeze Brussel’s Sprouts.

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