Sometimes I just simply crave a bowl of roasted vegetables. I think brussels sprouts are one of those controversial vegetables back in the day that no one liked to eat. But in today’s world we’ve found out so many ways to make brussels taste amazing. They are loved so much now that they became “trendy” in the past few years. It sounds silly but I’m serious! I feel like every hot and happening restaurant has some type of brussels sprout dish on their menu. They are so good as an appetizer or even as a side dish. You can fry them, roast them, or cut them into slivers. You can mold them into any type of cuisine you’d like. With mine, I went with an Asian twist! Let me tell you why…
On the night of Halloween, we decided to go to a neighborhood that had a street blocked off for trick or treating. There was a DJ and a line of food trucks in one area. We ordered a bowl of these sticky Asian Brussels sprouts that were absolutely to die for. I was not expecting to love a food truck so much as this one, but I was blown away by everything we ordered. I decided to try and recreate these brussel sprouts and put my own unique spin on them.
I needed something sweet, salty, and something a bit acidic. With all these elements combined…it was my perfect sauce for my crispy brussels. Frying your Brussels sprouts will definitely get them crispy, but I think roasting them does a fine job as well. Plus it’s healthier and not dripping in oil! You can do it either way and they’ll be great. Once the sauce goes on and you take a bite of those warm sweet and spicy brussels, I promise your taste buds will explode with joy.
SWEET AND SPICY ASAIN BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20-25
Total time: 30 minutes
Makes: about 2 cups (appetizer portion)
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups Brussels sprouts, outer layers removed and cut in half (or fourths for larger ones)
3 tbsp vegetable oil
SAUCE:
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp Sriracha
2 tbsp duck sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 pinch ground ginger
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped small
1 scallion, diced thin
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a bowl, mix together all the sauce ingredients with a whisk. Set aside.
Toss together Brussels sprouts and vegetable oil and place them on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until they are crispy on the edges and deep brown in the centers.
Remove from oven and toss with sauce. Serve immediately for crispier brussels.