Brussels Sprouts Slaw Salad Recipe with Bacon | White On Rice Couple (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak brussel sprouts before cooking? ›

Not only can soaking make the centers more malleable, but the water that's absorbed into them will create a steaming action, whether you choose to roast, saute, or make your Brussels sprouts in your air fryer. The steam can help to ensure the cooking is even throughout the Brussels sprout.

The Bottom Line

Brussels sprouts last for about one week in the fridge or 1 year in the freezer. If freezing, be sure to blanch the Brussels sprouts first. Rotten Brussels sprouts will have brown or yellow spots or be soft to the touch.

We love Brussels sprouts in so many dishes, whether roasted or fried. But there's some exciting preparations that don't necessarily involve cooking at all. Raw Brussels sprouts can be a delicious addition to so many salads and slaws, and they couldn't be easier to enjoy.

I like to cut the brussel sprouts in half and then blanch and shock them in salted boiling water. After that I get a frying pan and fry them cut side down in some neutral oil till they are nice and crispy brown. I do them cut in half lengthwise in a cast iron pan, with coconut oil, on a fairly high heat.

UPDATE: I've found that searing brussels sprouts "hard" in a cast-iron skillet produces a fantastic result. Heat the skillet over medium-high, add 1 tablespoon of bacon fat or quality olive oil, then sear cut side down until well charred. Flip and continue to cook until desired texture is reached.

A splash of lemon juice, or even apple cider vinegar, works wonders on bitter sprouts. Another key ingredient is fat, which helps Brussels sprouts to crisp up.

Throw out fresh brussel sprouts that have a foul odor, yellow or wilted leaves, a mushy or slimy texture, or dark spots. Use fresh brussel sprouts within 1–2 weeks of getting them. Store the brussel sprouts in a plastic bag inside your fridge, and wash them before cooking them.

Bad brussel sprouts can have a bad smell, similar to old cabbage. They might be a lighter green color, have brown edges, are moldy, or even slimy. Even pulling back a few leaves this sprout was still yellow and was starting to get soft.

Purchase Brussels sprouts that are bright green with tightly compacted leaves. Yellow or wilted leaves are signs of aging and deterioration. They can last 3 to 5 weeks at a freezing temperature of 32 F, and about 1 to 2 weeks refrigerated.

Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts). Cook sprouts thoroughly to reduce the risk of illness. Cooking kills the harmful bacteria.

How many brussel sprouts per person? ›

Sprouts on the stalk will stay fresher longer than sprouts that have been picked off and sold loose. Plan on about 1/2 pound (8 ounces) of raw brussels sprouts per person.

A Dutch scientist named Hans van Doorn, who worked at a seed and chemical company, figured out exactly which chemical compounds in Brussels sprouts made them bitter. The next step was to plant sprouts with the least amount of these chemicals and eventually cross-pollinate the chemicals out.

Steaming and boiling use moist heat, and moist heat can make Brussel Sprouts mushy and stinky—not a good combo. Give them the treatment they deserve by roasting them instead.

To maximize the flat areas, which get the most crispy surface area, cut your Brussels sprouts in half. If your Brussels sprouts are very small, you can leave them whole (and if they are very large, quarter them).

Contributed by Whole Foods Market, Inc. To prepare, soak Brussels sprouts in a bowl of cold, salted water for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F.

Soaking: Think of soaking as the initial step before actually sprouting a legume, grain, nut or seed. Many people soak beans before cooking to cut down on cooking time and reduce compounds that may cause gasiness in our digestive systems (although it's not completely necessary, it's definitely recommended).

However, the natural agents that protect them from early germination can wreak havoc in our digestive system. Soaking and sprouting replicates germination, which activates and multiplies nutrients (particularly Vitamins A, B, and C), neutralizes enzyme inhibitors, and promotes the growth of vital digestive enzymes.