SIMPLE SENSATIONAL SPROUTS, Vegan with carnivore option, low-salt, low-cost

Relax; this gets the sprouts done easily so you can get on with the rest of Christmas dinner!

Simple but sensational: Steamed Sprouts with Savoury Spice Mix & Lemon
'Makes sprouts a tasty must-have; the spice mix utterly makes it!'

Every year, 67goingon50 spends hours trying to find an appealing sprouts recipe that will please all ages.  It is not easy -- especially when plant and meat eaters will be at the same table. 

There is a limit to the number of rock-hard roasted sprouts, whatever the sauce/glaze, one can test.  And there seems to be innumerable variations of shredded sprouts stir-fried to perdition - nearly always with bacon -  served in gloopy cream or other sauces.

This year, where sprouts are concerned, simplicity reigns in the 67goingon50 kitchen.

67 cooked them in the way it usually cooks favourite green vegetables: steamed, dressed with lemon juice and seasoned generously.  

Steaming is one of the best ways of bringing out the essence of vegetables with clear, bright flavours and clean textures that are neither over or under-done.   

67's popular 2019 flavour-bomb -- Home-made Savoury Spice Mix -- adds zing and sassiness but any supermarket*/commercial spice mix will do. This year's Middle Eastern Spice Mix will add a touch of the souk.

Vegans could garnish the sprouts with Vegan Bacon Bits or baby-sized Memorable Crunchy Croutons.   

Meat-eaters will adore crumbled Italian pancetta or Spanish Serrano ham, baked a few minutes till easily crumbled, or common-all-garden bacon lardons fried till crisp and drained on paper towels.  

Cost: £1.50'ish plus cost of garnish
Makes: a large bowlful

Ingredients:
   400gm/14 oz baby sprouts (they cook faster & were on sale) or regular sprouts

   zest and juice of a lemon

   generous sprinkling 67 Savoury Spice Mix or Middle Eastern Spice Mix

   Garnishes:  (see above)
       
Method:

1. Cut a slight cross in the bottom of the sprouts to help them cook evenly
   
2. If the sprouts are not organic, soak in a solution of 90% water, 10% vinegar 20 mins, rinse, drain.
3. Spread out in one layer on the bottom of a steamer basket (67 uses bamboo steamer baskets and a wok cover but metal steamers are fine.)
4. Place, covered, on top of boiling water
5.  (If using an oven steamer, covering is unnecessary)

6.  Cook 10-12 mins or until a sharp knife inserted in the middle meets little resistance.

7.  Transfer to a serving bowl; add zest & juice of lemon; stir.  Dribble over butter or fruity olive oil, if desired.

8. Generously sprinkle with 67 Savoury Spice Mix or Middle Eastern Spice Mix OR supermarket or deli spice mix of choice, tossing as you go to  evenly distribute the spices 

9.  Add garnish of choice and serve 

Comments:
'A godsend -- the easiest and most delicious way of cooking sprouts, ever.' Retired writer.

Tip:

Bamboo steamer trays with lids are available in several sizes from Chinatowns, online at Nesbit & Amazon and even in places like Wilco.  Metal wok covers are available in Chinatowns.

Both are reasonably priced.

More vegetarian/vegan on Nav Bar/Recipes II

Please leave a Comment in the box below

This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.