Grilled Brussels Sprouts
I just love this time of year…the grilling, the outdoor parties, the picnics, the fires at night all make it so fun! Of course I love food, however, when I can cook and or eat my food outside…well that just brings it to a whole new level! Can you see me doing the happy dance? Really…I am! In addition to meats, I love using the grill for fish, seafood, veggies and fruits. For me, vegetables in particular take on amazing flavor when grilled.
As a kid, I wanted nothing, and I mean nothing to do with Brussels sprouts! If I even had a hint they were about to show up for dinner…I started to turn green myself. Well, I found out years later that was because my parents only served them boiled or from a bag (ouch). It’s a whole new world when you roast Brussels sprouts at a high temperature in the oven or pan fry them (especially with a bit of bacon or pancetta, fan-tastic). They have a whole new flavor and texture, trust me!
So with my love of the grill and my husbands and my enjoyment of brussel sprouts, I wondered about grilling them…and boy was I happy that I did! They were delish and will be a regular part of my grilling rotation this Spring, Summer and Fall.
The first time I made Brussels sprouts this way, they took quite a long time on the grill, so the next time I popped them in the microwave for 2 minutes to speed up the process and it was perfect, the were crisp-tender, not at all mushy, just the way we like them and the char on the outside was perfect. As I ate my dinner, I kept cutting my Brussels sprouts in half and dredging them through the sauce. So good…ok, now my tummy is rumbling and it’s pouring outside…what’s a gal to do?
Feel free to garnish them with some crumbled bacon and or a bit of lemon zest – you know what they say about bacon!
Happy Grilling! ~ Colleen
Brussels Sprouts are an acquired taste for many. Prepared on the grill they take on a lovely charred sweetness that is compelling to man palates - mostly adults it seems!
Ingredients
- 16 Brussels Sprouts, ends trimmed, yellow outer leaves removed
- 3 TBS olive oil
- 2 TBS minced garlic
- 2 TBS minced ginger root
- 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Dash or two of red pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the oil, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, salt and peppers in a medium bowl and whisk until combined. Set aside.
- Cook the Brussels sprouts in the microwave for 2 minutes, to get them ready to grill (if your Brussels sprouts are small, decrease cooking time to about 1 minute and 20 seconds). Toss Brussels sprouts into marinade and let sit for 10 minutes, tossing a few times while they do. Save the marinade.
- Oil 4 skewers and thread 4 Brussels sprouts on each.
- When has preheated to Medium, grill for 5-8 minutes, turning to evenly char the outsides of each sprout.
- Drizzle with the remaining marinade and serve!
Notes
NOTE: 16 Brussels sprouts were perfect for my husband and I as well as a sample for our kids, who I have to say had no interest in these...maybe it's a kid thing! For a bigger gathering, double, triple or quadruple this!
This recipe created by Colleen Kennedy of "Souffle Bombay"
