ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

How To Roast Brussel Sprouts On The Stalk

Updated on October 24, 2012

Brussels Sprouts Roasted on the Stalk


Several times per year, Trader Joe's offers brussels sprouts that arrive at the store in grand style. They are au naturale, meaning that they come in as they grow--right on the stalk.

This author had never seen them before this way though I've grown my own share of cauliflower and broccoli over the years.

I decided to try a few batches of them wondering how in the world I should cook them but the nice folks at Trader Joe's even provide you with a recipe rubber banded to the stalk. It is really quite a simple thing!

If you happen to see these gems in the store, pick up a few stalks and see how easy it is to roast brussels sprouts right on their own stalk. They do stay nicely fresh for several days, even up to a week so I'm told, because they're still attached to their growth source.

Of course, you can always cut the sprouts off and cook them normally. This author likes the presentation factor of cooking them on the stalk as it's a very unique way to plate them out after cooking. And let's not forget delicious!

Brussels sprouts are loaded with anti-oxidant properties and are the best cruciferous vegetable you can eat.
Brussels sprouts are loaded with anti-oxidant properties and are the best cruciferous vegetable you can eat. | Source

Trader Joe's Recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk


Trader Joe's recipe is very simple and easy to follow. However, there were a few things that I didn't quite like about the recipe, so I changed it to my own tastes. (see below)

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 stalk of brussels sprouts
  • 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh ground black pepper

PREPARATION

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan or large rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with vegetable spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Wash stalk of Brussels sprouts under cool running water. Lay on a dish towel and pat dry with paper towels or another dish towel until most of the moisture is gone.
  3. Cover the Brussels sprouts in plastic wrap and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes.
  4. Combine the oil and maple syrup along with pepper in a small bowl. Whisk to combine as the oil will try and separate.
  5. Using a small brush, baste all the individual Brussels sprouts with the mixture of oil and maple syrup, turning over to baste both sides.
  6. Place in oven and roast for 45 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a very large platter if serving on the stalk and place a knife or cutting shears on the platter.
  8. Or cut the Brussels sprouts from the stalk and serve in a bowl.
  9. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries if desired.

Wash and dry sprouts and then place on a foil lined jelly roll pan sprayed with vegetable spray.
Wash and dry sprouts and then place on a foil lined jelly roll pan sprayed with vegetable spray. | Source

__________________________________________________________________________

My Own Recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts


There were a couple of things that this author didn't want to try with respect to the Trader Joe's recipe.

I'm not a huge fan of maple syrup and especially not 3/4 cup of it being put onto vegetables. Hypothetically, one could substitute sugar-free maple syrup for the recipe and feel better about it but even at that, it was a lot of "sugar" to me for a vegetable.

The words "plastic wrap" and the microwave send up red flags for me. Studies have shown that plastic of any kind in the microwave is something we all should be avoiding due to the carcinogenic exposure so I had to pass on that part of the recipe right away.

What to do though? I gave it some thought and here is my revamped recipe. It is very tasty but I probably will try a couple more times to see if different brush-ons pump up the flavor a little more. The maple syrup was suggested because it gives the sprouts a nutty flavor but I do think in retrospect that a browned butter maybe flavored with some kind of nut such as hazelnut would do the same thing nicely.

INGREDIENTS CHANGED

  • I used coconut oil--several tablespoons melted in a small pan
  • I added 2 or 3 tablespoons of Trader Joe's Balsamic Glaze--a thickened, reduced variety of balsamic vinegar--for its tangy taste
  • I added 2 or 3 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon
  • Few dashes of kosher salt

PREPARATION CHANGED

  1. Instead of partially cooking the sprouts in the microwave, I added the tray with the prepared sprouts to the oven, then poured 1/2-1 cup of hot water onto the foil covered pan.
  2. This prevented any sticking and smoking from the coconut oil as the sprouts roasted and served to virtually "steam" the sprouts while they were cooking.
  3. I did not have to increase the cook time so they were done in 45 minutes--I think because of the steaming effect.

Note: If you use coconut oil, be quick about brushing the sprouts with the mixture. It begins to go back to its hardened stage very quickly. If that happens, just put back on the stove for a few seconds until it liquifies again and keep brushing.

The coconut oil did harden very quickly on the Brussels sprouts and gave them a nice flavor nonetheless. They did brown more than the recipe I made with a mixture of balsamic glaze, olive oil and reduced amount of maple syrup.

__________________________________________________________________________

Brush on coil and glaze mixture.  Cook in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Add water for steaming if desired.
Brush on coil and glaze mixture. Cook in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Add water for steaming if desired. | Source
This is how Brussels sprouts actually grow.
This is how Brussels sprouts actually grow. | Source

Health Benefits of Brussel Sprouts


Keep in mind that you should eat a good quantity of these or on a regular basis to receive the full health benefits but they are quite impressive.

  • Lower cholesterol
  • Protect DNA including white blood cells which lessens chance of infection
  • Top of the list for glucosinolate in all cruciferous vegetables (good for detoxing the system)
  • Thyroid protection
  • Anti-cancer properties
  • High in vitamin C
  • High in vitamin K
  • Super on the fiber chart
  • Low in calories
  • Antioxidant properties
  • Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis properties
  • Cardiovascular protection
  • High in folate
  • Rich in vitamin A
  • They are ranked one of the world's healthiest foods

Fresh roasted out of the oven--leave on the stalk or cut off and serve.
Fresh roasted out of the oven--leave on the stalk or cut off and serve. | Source

More with Brussels Sprouts


There are great favorite recipes for Brussels sprouts--some people say brussel sprouts and some say Brussels sprouts. Leave a comment below as to your favorite way to prepare them.

There are many ways to cook them:

  • Braised
  • Shredded
  • Roasted
  • Sauteed

I think though if you're preparing Brussels sprouts, as in all things, less is more. Steaming probably keeps in more nutrients than any other way although roasting is pretty close.

Try not to diminish the health benefits by glazing them in sugar or masking their flavor with too much of anything.

Eating Brussels sprouts is one of those things that you either hate or you love. They do have a distinctive aroma and a flavor all their own.

Roasting them is a great way to cook them and the presentation on the stalk is one of those conversation starters that I really enjoy!

Do you eat Brussels sprouts regularly?

See results
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)