Brussel sprouts have long been used in cooking and they can easily be cooked in a variety of different ways.
However, if you are going to make Brussel sprouts, you should know that they generally have a bitter taste. Many people simply don’t like Brussel sprouts, and some even hate them.
However, you should know that when they are cooked properly, Brussel sprouts can be quite delicious. In fact, they can be roasted, cooked, grilled, or made into a vegetable mix. They can even be used raw in a salad.
One of the things that you should know is that Brussel sprouts are generally quite filling and are usually low in fat, making them a fantastic choice for people who want to increase their uptake of minerals and vitamins.
Are They Good for You?
Yes, they are absolutely great for you. One of the reasons why so many parents try to introduce Brussel sprouts into their children’s diets is simply because they contain a variety of different minerals and vitamins. Brussel sprouts are full of vitamins A, C, and K, and they also contain manganese and folate.
The best part about these vegetables is that they contain a very low amount of calories, and they are excellent for improving the health of your heart, your bones, and of course, your immune system. Furthermore, you should know that Brussel sprouts also provide a fantastic amount of Omega-3s to your body.
The sheer number of antioxidants that are found in Brussel sprouts can be just what you need to keep many kinds of cancers at bay. Furthermore, the higher amount of fiber in the Brussel sprouts helps improve your metabolism, and they greatly improve the levels of blood sugar in your body.
If you are thinking of losing weight, adding Brussel sprouts into your diet is a great idea. As mentioned, these vegetables are incredibly low in their calorie count. One cup of Brussel sprouts generally contains around 38 calories.
That is one of the reasons why you should absolutely add Brussel sprouts into your diet. They are just fantastic and are going to help you lose weight very quickly.
What About Eating Them Raw?
While it is safe to eat Brussel sprouts in their raw form, you should know that these vegetables taste quite bitter. To improve the flavor, you might want to add just a bit of olive oil and a little bit of salt into the mix.
Furthermore, eating Brussel sprouts raw can lead to gas or bloating in some people. By roasting the Brussel sprouts, you can greatly improve the flavor and make the sprouts much easier to digest as well.
If you are thinking of eating Brussel sprouts in their raw form, you need to understand that it can cause nausea as well. All cruciferous vegetables, including Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage are easier to digest when cooked.
Moreover, you should know that people who suffer from thyroid conditions should absolutely avoid eating these cruciferous vegetables in their raw form. They contain a range of thyroid inhibitors that are only released when these vegetables are cooked.
How to Cook Them
So, by now, you might have ruled out eating Brussel sprouts in their raw form. However, you can roast them or saute them, and this is going to reduce the amount of bitterness. Instead, a nutty flavor will become prominent in the dish.
If you are going to eat them raw, there are a few things that you should know. For starters, it is recommended that you use a mandolin and slice them as thin as possible. You can also buy bagged salads that already contain a significant amount of Brussel sprouts in their shredded form.
When you slice them this way, you are simply reducing the amount of bitterness and by adding a light dressing on top, you will be able to enjoy the crunchy texture and flavor of the Brussel sprouts, without having to worry about the bitterness.
It doesn’t matter how you like to enjoy Brussel sprouts, one of the things that you need to do is properly rinse and wash them when you bring them home. Then, you have to chop off the tough ends from the Brussel sprouts, or cut them in half at the very least before you decide to eat them or cook them.
Some people like to be particularly cautious, and they even remove certain parts of the outer leaves from the sprouts. If you notice the leaves becoming wilted or coming loose, this is a wise move.
Many people like to eat Brussel sprouts in a salad. This is arguably the best way to have them, because you can easily add a bunch of other vegetables that are going to bring down the flavor and increase your nutrient intake.
Another great way to have Brussel sprouts is to just roast them properly. Basically, roasting caramelizes the sugars that are found within Brussel sprouts, and this is going to bring out the natural sweetness that is found within the sprouts.
If you are looking for a quick way to make Brussel sprouts without spending a lot of time on the cooking, this is an excellent option.
These are just some of the many different ways by which you can prepare Brussel sprouts. While you can eat them raw, most people prefer them cooked.
Final Thoughts
One of the reasons why Brussel sprouts are so popular is because they are quite versatile, and you can easily make them in a variety of different dishes. You can decide to mix them up in a conventional salad without cooking it.
In order to mitigate the bitterness, you should consider using different dressings to alter the flavor. Olive oil is a popular choice.
To ensure that the leaves are properly softened and seasoned, you have to make sure that you give the leaves a good massage. Using a bit of salt in order to massage the leaves is also a wise move, and is going to reduce the bitterness in the flavor.
At the end of the day, cooking Brussel sprouts is your choice. You can decide however you want to cook them, because there are just so many different ways by which you can cook them. Just make them however you like!
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.