Remember when brussels sprouts weren’t cool? All of you young millennials may not remember the day when brussels were lumped into the same category as, say, a casserole.
And yes, while they can be mushy and smelly, thank goodness the last several years of restaurant culture have made them over as the crispy, multilayered veg that they are, best when served spicy and charred (IMHO.)
There are always a few standbys on our Thanksgiving table, and brussels sprouts that are roasted until crispy and sweet are one of them. Although my sis makes a killer version, I’ve been wanting to recreate these cider-glazed brussels sprouts with dates that I tried in LA a few months ago, so I thought the lead up to the holidays felt the perfect time. Instead of leaning on my typical method of roasting halved sprouts until crispy, I shredded these into thin little ruffly bites, then did a hard sear in a cast iron skillet to get that char that I’m always after.
A quick toss in a sweet vinegar sauce with a secret ingredient (apple cider!) and a sprinkle of toasted pecans, dates, and chile flakes, and these are pretty close to perfect. Serve them with your turkey, or as the centerpiece to a nourishing veggie bowl in the weeks ahead. Or in tacos (yes, for real!)
Scroll on for the recipe…
Sweet & Sour Cider Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Dates & Pecans
Serves 4
Sweet and sour cider glazed brussels sprouts are an easy and delicious side for Thanksgiving dinner.
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Categories
dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussels sprouts, shredded with a sharp knife into thin slices
- 1/4 cup pitted dates, chopped
- extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup toasted pecans
- optional: red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat, and add just enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the brussels sprouts in an even layer, spreading them out as much as possible so that the maximum amount of the sprouts surface area comes into contact with the hot pan.
- Sear without moving, until they begin to char (about 4 minutes.) Add the dates, cider, vinegar, a big pinch of salt and pepper, and maple syrup to the pan, and give everything a good stir. Continue searing the brussels sprouts so that more of them can develop a char, 2 or 3 more minutes. The sauce should start to coat the brussels sprouts - if it reduces too much, add a splash more of cider.
- Transfer to a serving dish, add another pinch of salt and pepper (if needed) and a pinch of red pepper flakes, and top with toasted pecans. Eat!
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This looks so good
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What should the texture of these be? Mine were much softer than I’d expected. Tasty, though!
I like my Brussels crispy, so I think I’d rather do the sauce separately and pour while serving, so the Brussels can stay crispy.