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Pre preparing sprouts.

(61 Posts)
kittylester Mon 20-Nov-23 17:37:49

Does anyone have any nice recipes for sprouts that can be done ahead of time (preferably nowish and frozen)

And, before anyone else says it, I missed putting them on in September!!

Sago Mon 20-Nov-23 17:39:29

I parboil sprouts and chill in the fridge, on the day I pan fry them with pancetta and chestnuts.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 20-Nov-23 17:43:50

I’ve never frozen sprouts because bought frozen ones are bitter and I wonder if the ones frozen at home would be bitter. Does anyone know?

Whitewavemark2 Mon 20-Nov-23 17:44:31

Otherwise I’d be more than happy to pre-prepare them.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 20-Nov-23 17:58:16

I have never successfully frozen sprouts, they go mushy and taste awful.

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 20-Nov-23 18:00:25

Terry Wogan would have had the sprouts on long ago! They take such a short time to cook, surely if you’re short of time buy them ready prepped and cook on the day?

Aldom Mon 20-Nov-23 18:07:01

Whitewavemark2 years ago, when I lived in the countryside and had a chest freezer, I froze a whole net of sprouts. They were all bitter. Never frozen sprouts since.
I do my Christmas sprouts the same as Sodapop. Easily prepared and delicious.

Jaxjacky Mon 20-Nov-23 19:03:22

In France you can buy them in tins, don’t go there! 🤮

M0nica Mon 20-Nov-23 19:11:50

I prepare the sprouts the previous day, put them in the fridge and on The Day. They simmer away while we eat our starter.

Bella23 Mon 20-Nov-23 19:18:23

Sago

I parboil sprouts and chill in the fridge, on the day I pan fry them with pancetta and chestnuts.

I do the same as Sago, I gave in the last time we had family and bought a packet of freshly prepared sprouts. I fry pancetta with thinly sliced savoy cabbage as well.
At Christmas, I precook sprouts and then fry them with the pancetta and a packet of Merchant Gourmet chestnuts. I also parboil the potatoes on Christmas Eve when I'm boiling the Giblets for gravy. I recently saw a recipe where they roasted the potatoes on Christmas Eve and finished them off in Goose Fat on the day. I actually micro-waved the sprouts and potatoes the day before when DH worked, DH likes to do them from scratch.blush

Callistemon21 Mon 20-Nov-23 19:36:47

Am I the only one who has found pre-prepared sprouts still need another peel

Even Waitrose, M&S ....

I've given in with them and buy the ordinary unpeeled ones and prepare them myself.
It used to be MIL's job, she'd take ages to do enough for all of us but was happy to sit at the kitchen table, peel away and chat to me as I was busy preparing other food.

Urmstongran Mon 20-Nov-23 19:48:00

Same here Calli. 😊

Beechnut Mon 20-Nov-23 21:19:08

Jaxjacky

In France you can buy them in tins, don’t go there! 🤮

You can buy them in tins in B&M and you’re right Jax I’m with you on the 🤮

Ladyleftfieldlover Mon 20-Nov-23 21:28:25

All this adding bacon, chestnuts or whatever to Brussels to make them palatable… I’d rather just have the bacon and chestnuts and chuck the Brussels in the bin!

Wheniwasyourage Mon 20-Nov-23 21:40:41

September, kittylester?? Mine have been on since June, and I’m a bit worried that they’re not going to be done in time. hmm

Mancjules Mon 20-Nov-23 21:44:02

We chop the raw sprouts up, add pancetta, season and stir fry...no par boiling. You can add chestnuts or pine nuts to taste. Always a hit...even with the veggie suspicious toddlers !

rubysong Mon 20-Nov-23 21:46:58

We had sprouts tonight with mash and lamb cobbler. They were delicious! The bitterness has been bred out of them in recent years. I have frozen them in the past and they have been fine; trimmed, briefly blanched and quickly cooled.

25Avalon Mon 20-Nov-23 21:56:27

Sainsbury’s frozen button sprouts are OK. I had them with shepherd’s pie the other night as I didn’t have any fresh. Now Waitrose frozen ones are awful imo. I have a Cook’s ready to cook frozen Christmas dinner. They mix leeks with chopped sprouts so idk how that would work if you tried it yourself. I would experiment before Christmas Day.

Gwyllt Mon 20-Nov-23 22:39:07

Husband once bought tinned sprouts. Six cans- very cheap apparently. Revolting but rinsed off dogs woofed them down

Callistemon21 Mon 20-Nov-23 23:02:17

I'm 😲 wondering what the consequences were of the dogs eating all those sprouts, Gwyllt 😁

Aldom Mon 20-Nov-23 23:22:10

Ladyleftfieldlover

All this adding bacon, chestnuts or whatever to Brussels to make them palatable… I’d rather just have the bacon and chestnuts and chuck the Brussels in the bin!

Don't bin the sprouts, send them to me. I love them. grin

henetha Mon 20-Nov-23 23:29:14

Me too...a real favourite.

MrsKen33 Tue 21-Nov-23 05:57:05

My m.i.l would put them on about now. Bless her .

Gwyllt Tue 21-Nov-23 06:48:31

I make dogs food from fresh ingredients
Callistemon21 if by consiquences you mean farting they were fine cos used to veg and I give them sprout trimmings when we eat them

Redhead56 Tue 21-Nov-23 08:57:11

I trim and halve them stir fry in butter and bit of olive oil until al dente. I add chopped shallot and a handful of chopped pre cooked chestnuts. I finish them off with a dusting of Parmesan and black pepper.