Regular, nutritious Brussels sprouts are visually appealing little vegetables; the small green rounds look like tiny cabbages. The slightly bitter flavor of Brussels sprouts, however, is often an acquired taste. Choosing smaller heads of the vegetable, no bigger than 2 inches in diameter, may increase the sweetness and appeal of the sprouts. Cooking regular Brussels sprouts on the stove is easy and a healthy way to get your daily iron, fiber and vitamin C needs.
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Boiling or Steaming
Step 1
Wash the regular Brussels sprouts with water and remove any discolored or wilted leaves before cooking.
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Step 2
Cut the Brussels sprouts in half to minimize the bitter taste of the vegetable. If you prefer the look of the whole vegetable, leave them intact but cut an X shape at the base of the stem end. The incision helps regulate the vegetable's cooking time so that both the inside and outside of the sprout will cook evenly.
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Step 3
Pour water into a cold cooking pot. If boiling, add 1 cup water for each cup of vegetables. If steaming, place a steamer basket into the pot and add 1 to 2 inches of water. Boiling and steaming are similar cooking methods; however, steaming retains more of the nutritional value of the Brussels sprouts than boiling.
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Step 4
Set the cooking pot on the stove on high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. Add the sprouts to the pot or steamer basket and return the water to a boil. Cook the Brussels sprouts for eight to 10 minutes.
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Step 5
Drain the cooked Brussels sprouts or remove them from the steamer basket and run cold water over the vegetables to stop them from cooking further. Serve immediately.
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Sauteeing
Step 1
Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
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Step 2
Place the washed and prepared Brussels sprouts into the skillet.
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Step 3
Add spices or accompaniments as desired, such as onion, garlic, lemon zest or brown sugar.
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Step 4
Stir the Brussels sprouts occasionally to prevent the vegetables from sticking to the pan and to encourage even cooking.
Step 5
Poke a knife or fork into a sprout to test for tenderness. Remove the sprouts from the heat once your vegetables are to your desired taste. Sauteeing medium-sized Brussels sprouts may take between five and 15 minutes.
Things You'll Need
Paring knife Cutting board Measuring cup Pot Steamer basket Colander Skillet Olive oil Seasonings, optional
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references
"Bon Appetit": Brussels Sprouts
FoodReference.com: Brussels Sprouts
references
"Bon Appetit": Brussels Sprouts
FoodReference.com: Brussels Sprouts
Paring knife
Cutting board
Measuring cup
Pot
Steamer basket
Colander
Skillet
Olive oil
Seasonings, optional
"Bon Appetit": Brussels Sprouts FoodReference.com: Brussels Sprouts
