Earthy and subtly sweet with pleasant hints of bitterness, shredded Brussels sprouts make excellent slaw-style salads and balance the rich saltiness of holiday fare. Raw sprouts can be tough and slightly pungent, but a quick massage ensures the best flavour and texture.
In this recipe from our cookbook “ ,” we massage shredded sprouts with rice vinegar and soy sauce, tenderizing the sprouts and tempering their cabbage-y qualities. The salt in the soy sauce draws out moisture while the massage breaks down the plant’s cell walls, rendering the firm, raw leaves supple and easy to chew.
The acid in the vinegar further tenderizes the sprouts and adds bright flavours, a nice contrast to the robust greens. Be sure to use unseasoned rice vinegar, as seasoned rice vinegar can contain corn syrup and other additives that will alter the flavour of the dish.
We add fresh ginger and chilies for punch, drawing out fragrance and flavour from the aromatics by tossing them with a mixture of sizzling oil and sesame seeds. This lightly cooks the sprouts and gives them nutty, toasty notes. If serranos or jalapeños bring too much heat, you can swap out some or all of the chilies for thinly sliced scallions.
Taste and season with additional soy sauce and pepper, if needed, and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Start to finish: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed
3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce, plus more as needed
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
1 or 2 Fresno OR serrano OR jalapeño chilies, stemmed and thinly sliced OR 2 scallions, thinly sliced OR both
3 tablespoons neutral oil
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Directions:
In a food processor fitted with the medium (3-mm) slicing disk, slice the sprouts, emptying into a large bowl as needed. Add the vinegar, soy sauce and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Using your hands, massage the sprouts until they wilt, 10 to 20 seconds. Let stand for 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl. Distribute the ginger and chilies evenly over the top; do not stir or toss.
In an 8-inch skillet over medium-high, combine the oil and sesame seeds. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Drizzle the oil-seed mixture onto the sprouts and aromatics, then immediately toss. Taste and season with additional soy sauce and pepper.
Optional garnish: Chopped fresh cilantro
—— EDITOR’S NOTE: For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at
Christopher Kimball, The Associated Press
