The autumnal season is upon us! This is the best time for roasting vegetables that are both hardy and sweet as a perfect side dish. I swear, this recipe makes brussel sprouts taste like little candy gems next to the grapes. And roasted grapes are a true revelation within any side dish. No longer crisp, the grapes release an amazing juice and tenderness when they are roasted. The walnuts provide the much sought after crunch and additional hardiness to this side dish. This side dish is so unexpected and yet SO GOOD! More often than not, you already have grapes in your refrigerator and walnuts in your baking stockpile. All you need are fresh brussel sprouts from the grocery store. I highly recommend using this dish as a fall vegetable side dish or holiday side dish to spruce up the table.
How do you clean fresh Brussel sprouts?
The best way to clean fresh brussel sprouts is to rinse them under running water and then dry them with a paper towel. Once the brussel sprouts are cleaned, use a knife to remove the leftover stalk (white portion) of the sprout bulb. Martha Stewart’s version of this recipe also gives some great instructions for how to best clean the brussel sprouts There is no need to blanche brussel sprouts or microwave them prior to roasting them in the oven unless you would like to. Many people will pre-cook their brussel sprouts in the microwave in order to soften the texture if grilling or frying to speed up the cooking process. Just remember, if you do microwave your brussel sprouts, not to over cook so they do not come out slimy.
What spices go with Brussel sprouts?
Many spices go really well with brussel sprouts and work to enhance the overall flavor. Some people will tell you that brussel sprouts can be too bitter to eat. Brussel sprouts can taste bitter if they are not cooked well and are still raw. They can also taste bitter without any seasoning, so spices are recommended- at the very least, salt and pepper. For this recipe I used salt, pepper and olive oil, but you can also use cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger for a nice change.
How do you Roast Brussel Sprouts?
I’ve been making brussels sprouts for years, but I never really knew how to roast them. They always seemed very complicated to cook, but after a few tries, I found out cooking them is WAY easier than it looks So here is my version of the perfect roasted brussels sprout:
Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Grapes and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 1 pound of brussel sprouts
- 3/4 – 1 pound of seedless grapes (red preferable)
- 1/2 cup of walnuts
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt (or kosher salt)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2-3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction glaze
- 1 rimmed baking sheet
- 1 wooden spoon for stirring everything together
Recipe
Heat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Overall, this recipe will take 25-30 minutes to cook. Take your brussel sprouts and clean them using cold water and dry them with a paper towel. Cut off the ends of the brussel sprouts and then slice in half, lengthwise with a knife and place directly on to your rimmed baking sheet.
Pull the red grapes off of the stems and wash with cold water, then dry and place directly onto the rimmed baking sheet with the brussel sprouts. Drizzle over the extra virgin olive oil, and season with salt and black pepper and mix well with spoon or hands. Place the brussel sprouts into the oven for 20 minutes to roast.
While the sprouts and grapes are roasting, roughly chop the walnuts. At the 20 minute mark, at the walnuts directly to the sheet pan and mix in with the roasted sprouts and grapes. Cook for another 5-10 minutes. Remove from the oven immediately and drizzle over the balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction glaze. Toss all ingredients together and enjoy! Serves 3-4 people.
Chef’s tip: Depending on how well you want your grapes roasted, you can add them earlier with the brussel sprouts to roast for the initial 20 minutes. This depends on the size (circumference of each grape) and varietal of the grapes you use for the recipe. However you choose to roast the grapes, and at what point in the baking process, it will be absolutely delicious.
