Veggies are full of surprises. While some veggies are so yummy that you can’t resist yourself from having it, there are some kinds of vegetables that people don’t like to eat that much. Especially when it comes to Brussels sprouts, many people will try to avoid it. Surprisingly, it comes with some unique health benefits, including reducing the cholesterol level of our body. But what is the reason for this avoidance? Or, what do Brussel sprouts taste like?
Brussels sprout is a vegetable of the Gemmifera group, just like cabbages. They come with an outstanding level of nutritional element. However, unfortunately, Brussels sprouts taste bitter when you eat them raw. That is why you must know how to cook them properly to remove their bitterness.
If you are still unsure about Brussels sprout’s taste, stay with us throughout this article to know everything about it. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
What are Brussels sprouts?
When it comes to Brussels sprout’s origin, we can confirm that this unique vegetable belongs to the Brassica family. This family is also widely known as the Cruciferous. Let’s share another fantastic information. Cabbage, one of the most favorite vegetables of most people, also belongs to the same family as Brussels sprout.
According to Wikipedia, in the 5th century, Brussels sprouts appeared for the first time in Europe’s northern region. Eventually, in the 13th century, this vegetable was cultivated widely in Brussels, Belgium. That is the reason why they are called Brussels sprouts.
These fantastic vegetables are highly adaptive, and most importantly, they are full of nutrient content. You’ll get fiber, amino acids, potassium, folate, etc. from Brussels sprouts. They are also highly rich in different types of vitamins, which include vitamin C, A, and K. You may not like this unique vegetable, but the health benefits you’ll get from it are just splendid.
So, What Do Brussel Sprouts Taste Like?
Unfortunately, you’ll experience a bitter taste while eating raw Brussels sprouts. That is the main reason why many people hate them. However, if you can cook them in the right way, the chance is you’ll end up having a sweet, nutty flavor. To reduce the Brussels sprouts’ overall bitterness, you should cook them by following a specific cooking method.
So, the taste of the Brussels sprouts highly depends on the cooking method. In most of the cases, you’ll get a cabbage-like taste from the Brussels sprout. But, we can confirm that the flavor is relatively mild comparing to the cabbage.
Typically, Brussels sprouts are quite tasty, likewise other kinds of smaller fruits and vegetables. But, you have to make sure that you know how to cook it. You can also improve its taste by adding lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, and other kinds of flavorings.
The fantastic thing is Brussels sprout is a complete package of nutrition. Especially when it comes to glucosinolate content, Brussels sprout is richer in it compared to other members of the cruciferous family like broccoli, kale, or even turnip greens. On top of that, they have abundant Vitamin C, and you already know how vital this nutritional element is for your health.
How to Cook Brussel Sprouts
You already know that you can’t cook Brussels sprout in a usual way. You have to follow some specific methods to remove its bitterness. Luckily, you’ll see multiple ways for cooking Brussels sprouts.
Here the primary technique is you have to cook them quickly within a short period. It will make them tasty and even healthier. In most cases, Brussels sprouts can be cooked in the following ways.
Steamed:
The first way to cook them is through the steaming method. First of all, you have to boil an adequate amount of water. After that, you have to take a steam basket and put all of the sprouts to it. You have to wait for at least 7 minutes to cook them properly. You can also use lemon juice, salt, pepper, or butter to make them tastier.
Roasted:
If you are a roasted food lover like us, you already have experience with the taste and smell you’ll get when you eat any roasted item. In our opinion, this is the most popular method of cooking Brussels sprouts. First of all, you must slice the sprouts’ stem, which is the hardest part of them. Then, you must remove all of the tough leaves of the sprouts.
Now, you can slice the sprouts in two pieces. You can toss them by using pepper, salt, or olive oil. Without any doubt, it will increase the taste of the sprouts. Then, you have to roast them correctly. You have to roast them in a 400-degree F oven for at least fifteen minutes. The time can vary depending on the sprouts.
Make sure that the sprouts are getting brown. When you see the Brussels sprouts are already turned into brown, it is high time you should end the roasting process. Here are excellent tips for you.
Saute:
Another method of cooking Brussels sprouts is the saute. In this case, First of all, you have to take a pan and heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, and Brussels sprouts on the pan.
Stir them properly for at least 10 minutes. You should stop the cooking when you notice that the sprouts are lightly browned. You can season with pepper, lemon juice, salt, or butter.
There is no denying the fact that Brussels sprouts are highly nutritious yet a little bit bitter. You have to follow the right technique to reduce their bitterness and improve the taste. If you are still unsure how to cook Brussels sprouts, check this recipe to learn how you can make them tasty.
Final Words
At this point, here is a small tip for you. You should never overcook or boil the Brussels sprouts. Because if you do so, you will end up having a foul and strong odor from them.
In this article, we tried to gather all information on this topic at a single place so that you can learn about Brussels sprouts without any hassle. We hope it was a good read for you. Now you know what do Brussel sprouts taste like and how you can improve it.
