Sprouts? Convert me?

[Birdie Wife]

This is a good thread, thanks Seahorse! I hate sprouts too but I bought some seed from the Real Seed Co last month to try and grow my own and see if I like them then. I reckon if I can pick them smaller than I can get in the shops, I might be able to bring myself to eat them. Love all the recipe suggestions. But OH says if you have to disguise the taste of something with other ingredients to be able to eat it, why bother?!

[Flummery]

'Cos you grew it!

And it's good for you.

[wellie]

Yes, nice thread Seahorse!
With my Potager (ooh - get her!) right outside my kitchen, I wanted to grow 'pretty veg' like wot Sarah Raven does, and so I grew PURPLE Sprouts this year, which a friend gave me some seed for: (not sure why I keep empty seed packets?) and the variety says: 'Red Falstaff' - Novel. Matures over a long period, and so develops nuttier..... Anyway, enough about me...!

Trousers picked some for Sunday Lunch and cooked them in the pan with the Chantenay Carrots until 'al dente'. The sprouts were small, sweet, very nutty and not at all bitter. I would go as far as saying they were the nicest sprouts I've ever eaten.

They look dead pretty too, and I'm not sure where I heard this useless bit of information, but Cabbage White Flutterbies tend not to like laying eggs on purple plants as much, and they certainly weren't bovvered too much about mine!

Do give them a go, there's no comparison to shop-bought bitter bullets. Homegrown are definitely far far superior!

[piskieinboots]

I haven't grown Sprouts as yet but will deffo be giving it a go next year - I like the thought of the purple ones, so will try them first methinks

[Nicos]

Last year I bought a tray of 12 plants and couldn't give them away ( only wanted a couple really) All died!
This year I bought 6 plants and 4 survived and are now looking pretty good ( even though they are listing and bending quite a bit!)
So far they have been lovely- quite small and sweet!

[veg4681]

But OH says if you have to disguise the taste of something with other ingredients to be able to eat it, why bother?!

I have to agree with you mostly only because I don't know what else you can do with sprouts, certainly not as curry or Chinese stir-fry.

The thing with sprouts is you either love it or hate it and for those who hate it, I perfectly understand because however way you criticise the taste of sprouts, it's that same taste characteristics that makes it desirable for us sprouts lovers. It's like asking why do some people eat smelly cheese even if it smells like sweaty feet.

[SarzWix]

I'm doing Red Falstaff also Wellie, they do look lovely next to some dark green savoys... Can't vouch for flavour yet, as they're only just getting big enough to pick!

I generally loathe brassicas boiled/steamed on their own, but I'm trying to find ways of eating them anyway as they are so important in the diet - most have good cancer fighting nutrients/properties amongst other things. If all else fails, I make a pot of 'allotment soup' - onions, leeks, swede, carrots, cabbage, kale, sprouts etc, chopped & simmered with a quality stock cube for about 15 mins, then put through the blender. Makes a brilliant lunch with some crusty bread & I get my 5-a-day in one fell swoop.
I'm definately going to give some of the stir-fry type recipes a go though - can't expect the kids to try new stuff if I don't can I?!

[TonyF]

Get the sprouts and put them through a fine grater. Get some lardons, smoked or unsmoked, your preference and fry gently until they brown. Then add the sprouts and cook gently until the lardons are cooked and the sprouts wilted and softened then remove from pan.

Take a dozen or so scallops, corals removed and cut them in half cross ways. Reheat the pan, using the bacon fat left from the sprouts and bacon. One minute each side until they go white.

Put the sprouts and bacon on a plate and then put the scallops on top. Delicious.

Alternatively, can be done as a really poncy starter, 5 on a small plate sitting on the sprouts and lardons finished with a sherry caramel.

[veg4681]

Take a dozen or so scallops, corals removed and cut them in half cross ways. Reheat the pan, using the bacon fat left from the sprouts and bacon.

Scallops! I'll have to TRY to afford that one here but I know I wouldn't. Had my first scallop in France .

[shirlthegirl43]

Scallops! I'll have to TRY to afford that one here but I know I wouldn't. Had my first scallop in France .

Not certain but think Lidl have them on an offer just now

[Dobby]

I love sprouts I enterd a sprout eating compotition and won it was before I met Mrs D

[Seahorse]

So many good ideas! I am definitely going to try the bacon/shallots etc recipe!

Thanks!

[Shortie]

I love sprouts I enterd a sprout eating compotition and won it was before I met Mrs D

Cooo-eeeee that must have been windy... Did Mrs D ban the comp?

[Two_Sheds]

You mean Fairy Cabbages? I like them raw or stir fried (sliced first)

[shirlthegirl43]

I am trying them stir fried with lardons and shallots - the family are looking at me strangely as I prepare sprouts for the first time ever! usually, if we have them at all, they come frozen and get lightly boiled.