Name: Sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Brussels sprouts; 1/4 tsp salt; vegetable oil; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp red pepper flakes

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Are you looking for an easy recipe for Brussels sprouts that are a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy? Well then you are in the right place! This recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is made with fresh Brussels sprouts that are fried until they are nice and crispy. Once the Brussels sprouts are done cooking, they are coated in a sweet and spicy sauce that is made with just four common ingredients.

Sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts in a glass bowl.

What is in sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts?

What do you need to make these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts? Here are all of the ingredients that you need to make these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts. The first thing you need to make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is Brussels sprouts. You should use fresh, uncooked Brussels sprouts to make this recipe. Do not use frozen or pre-cooked Brussels sprouts.
Vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is used to fry the Brussels sprouts until they are nice and crispy. If you do not have vegetable oil, you can also use another neutral oil that does not have a strong flavor. Avoid using a rich oil with a strong flavor.
Salt. After the Brussels sprouts are fried until they are nice and crispy, they are coated in salt.
White sugar. The next thing you need to make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is white sugar. The white sugar is added to the sweet and spicy sauce to provide the sweet flavor. The sugar is supposed to melt into the sweet and spicy sauce, so you should avoid using sugar with large grained crystals that will not blend into the sauce well.
Soy sauce. The next ingredient you need to make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is soy sauce. Soy sauce is one of the main ingredients that is used in the sweet and spicy sauce that these Brussels sprouts are coated in.
Rice vinegar. The next ingredient you need to make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is rice vinegar. The rice vinegar adds a little bit of acidity that balances out the sweetness of the sweet and spicy sauce.
Red pepper flakes. The final ingredient you need to make these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes add the spicy flavor to the sweet and spicy sauce.

How to make sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts

How do you make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts? Here are all of the steps you need to take to make this easy recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts.

Make the sweet and spicy sauce. The first thing you need to do to make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is make the sweet and spicy sauce. All you need to do to make the sweet and spicy sauce is combine the ingredients for the sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts in a small bowl and mix them together.
Preheat the pan. The next thing you need to do to make this recipe for sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is preheat the pan that you will use to cook these Brussels sprouts over medium low to medium heat. For best results, you should use a large cast iron pan like this Victoria cast iron pan (this is our all time favorite cast iron pan). You should add the vegetable oil that you will use to cook the Brussels sprouts to the pan before you preheat the pan.
Chop the Brussels sprouts. The next step you need to take in order to make these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is chopping the Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are soft and have many layers to them, so you will be best off using a sharp chef’s knife like this chef’s knife from Victorinox (this is our all time favorite chef’s knife). You should chop the larger Brussels sprouts into quarters and the smaller Brussels sprouts into halves. After you chop the Brussels sprouts, make sure that they are completely dry. If the Brussels sprouts are not dry, they will cause splatter when you put them into the pan.
Cook the Brussels sprouts. Once you have prepared the Brussels sprouts, it is time to dump the Brussels sprouts into the preheated cast iron pan to cook them. Cook the Brussels sprouts over medium low to medium heat until they are crispy and and browned. This should take around 10 – 15 minutes if your pan is sufficiently warm. If it has been 4 – 5 minutes and your Brussels sprouts have not started to brown on at least one side, increase the heat on your pan.
Toss the Brussels sprouts in salt. Once the Brussels sprouts are done cooking, pat the Brussels sprouts down with a paper towel to remove excess grease and toss the Brussels sprouts in salt.
Toss the Brussels sprouts in sauce. Finally, coat the Brussels sprouts in the sweet and spicy sauce and serve.

Fried brussels sprouts in a cast iron pan.

How to store sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts

Are you wondering how to store leftover sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts? These leftover Brussels sprouts should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight food storage container or bag. If stored properly, these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts should keep for up to three days.

If you plan to make a lot of Brussels sprouts and you know you will have some leftovers, you might consider storing the sweet and spicy sauce in a different container than the Brussels sprouts. The reason for this is that if the sweet and spicy sauce is stored in the same container as the Brussels sprouts, the liquids from the sauce will seep into the Brussels sprouts and make the Brussels sprouts soggy. If you store the Brussels sprouts in a separate container, we recommend adding a dry paper towel to the container to absorb any excess liquid. This will help to keep the Brussels sprouts crispy.

How to reheat sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts

How do you reheat sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts? Here are a few options that you have when it comes to reheating these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts.

Stovetop. The first option you have when it comes to reheating these sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts is reheating the Brussels sprouts on the stove. Brussels sprouts that are reheated on the stove are generally much crispier than Brussels sprouts that are reheated in the microwave. Cook the Brussels sprouts in a pan that is coated with butter or oil for 5 – 8 minutes, or until the Brussels sprouts are heated throughout. For best results, you should reheat the Brussels sprouts at a lower temperature than you originally cooked them. This will help to prevent the Brussels sprouts from burning.
Microwave. The next option you have is to reheat the Brussels sprouts in the microwave. This is the fastest option, but it also results in Brussels sprouts that are soggy rather than crispy. If your sprouts are already somewhat soggy from being coated in lots of sauce, then this might be a good option. If your Brussels sprouts are still dry and somewhat crispy, this might not be as good of an option. If you want to reheat your Brussels sprouts in the microwave, you can reheat them for 30 – 60 seconds on full power, or until they are heated throughout.
Oven. You can also reheat your Brussels sprouts in the oven. Brussels sprouts that are reheated in the oven are generally a little less crispy than those that are heated on the stovetop, but they are still somewhat crispy. If you want to reheat your Brussels sprouts in the oven, we recommend cooking them for 5 – 7 minutes at 350 degrees, or until they are heated throughout. For best results, you should spread the Brussels sprouts out on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper.

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