Be Well Recipe: Not Your Grandmother’s Brussels Sprouts!

Grilled brussels sprouts are an easy, delicious summer side dish. // Photo by Maura Manzo

Last year, I saw brussels sprouts popping up on menus at all different types of restaurants—and I loved it! Growing up, most of us thought these bite-sized veggies were smelly and gross. Today, though, it’s hard to go wrong when they are caramelized, and grilling is one of the easiest ways to do it. Add the sweetness of onions (or even a high-quality pancetta, if your heart desires) and this is one bandwagon you’ll be sure to jump on.

Not Your Grandmother’s Brussels Sprouts!
Serves 3

Ingredients
3 cups brussels sprouts, whole
1 small yellow onion, quartered
2 small shallots, peeled, halved
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Sea salt, to taste

Preheat grill to medium-high. (Or roast in oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes)

Clean brussels sprouts. Remove discolored leaves and trim ends, making sure to keep sprouts intact as much as possible. Peel shallots and onions and slice off ends. Half shallots and cut the onion in four sections. In a large Ziploc bag or bowl, add all ingredients together and toss until evenly coated.

Carefully grill sprouts, onions and shallots. (If you wish, you can use a grill basket.) Let cook for 5 minutes, covered, and then turn. Repeat until all sides are evenly browned, for a total of approximately 15 minutes. Note, if brussels sprouts leaves burn, don’t discard, simply remove the outer leaf. When finished, serve immediately or let cool and roughly chop all ingredients.

Nutrition per serving: 102 calories; 5g. fat, 1g. sat. fat, 13g. carbohydrates, 4g. fiber, 4g. protein, 0mg. cholesterol, 77mg. sodium

Shopping Tip: For ultimate freshness (and added cool factor), pick up your sprouts from a local farm or market that sells them right on their stalk. It’s wild-looking and beautiful at the same time. I guarantee you’ll feel like a gourmet chef walking home with them sticking out of your (recyclable) bag.

Food Fact: Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of Vitamin K (over 250% of RDA in just 1 cup!) which helps support blood clotting, relieve excess menstrual flow and cramps, as well as protects the body against osteoporosis.

Maura Manzo is a health coach and yoga instructor at RYAH Yoga and Health in Conshohocken.  To learn more about her classes and workshops, visit mauramanzo.com or ryahyoga.com. Read her full bio here.