Last Updated on March 24, 2021
I can’t believe that it took me ages to try out a roasted Brussel sprouts recipe. But a recent incident changed my mind forever and catapulted these “baby cabbages” into my Top 10 list of winter vegetables.
What exactly changed my mind I’ll share at the end of this blog post.
Roasted Brussel sprouts with Balsamic everyone goes crazy
Let me just tell you…when I finally took this mouth-watering dish out of the oven I invited my daughter and husband to snack one or two vegetables with me before dinner.
The result: Overwhelmed by the taste explosion, we ate all the little balls right from the sheet pan until nothing was left for dinner;)
This day in November 2017, marked the beginning of a life long “love affair”. Make sure to read until the end of the blog post where I also share some facts on the nutritional value, especially the impressive Brussel sprouts fiber content and the various health benefits of this amazing cabbage type.
But first let’s jump into this sheet pan recipe, that will make your family fight over these veggies.
That’s what you’ll need
- Brussel sprouts, trimmed (remove wilted outer leaves) and halved
- Balsamic vinegar
- Date paste or Maple syrup (I prefer the fiber-rich date paste)
- minced garlic or garlic powder
- canola oil
- red chili flakes
Tip: If you want to replace canola oil with extra virgin olive oil for this recipe, then make sure to reduce baking temperature to 360°F/180°C and bake it a bit longer. They probably won’t come out as roasted as on the photos. But with olive oil I don’t recommend baking temperatures over 360°F/180°C.
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 410 °F/210 °C. In a small bowl, whisk together Balsamic vinegar, date paste, minced garlic, canola oil and red chili flakes.
Step 2: Toss trimmed brussels sprouts halves in sauce.
Step 3: Spread them on a prepared baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake veggies for 30 minutes at 410°F/210°C until Brussels are slightly charred and tender. The veggies will look shrunken, but this is ok. Remove from oven and taste them with salt and pepper.
Then you can snack them immediately…
…or transfer them into a bowl for a yummy side dish.
Watch how to make them
Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts Recipe
A delicious side dish with bang bang sauce
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 45
- Yield: 3 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 500 grams/1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed (remove wilted outer leaves) and halved
- 1 tbsp. canola oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp. date paste or maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. red chili flakes
- kosher salt and pepper to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 410 °F/210 °C
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together canola oil, Balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, minced garlic and red chili flakes.
- Toss Brussels sprouts in sauce until fully coated and transfer them on the baking sheet.
- Bake them for 30 minutes at high heat until they are slightly charred and tender. The veggies will look shrunken, but this is ok.
- Season generously with salt and pepper. (optional)
- Transfer them into a casserole dish.
Notes
- I love to serve them with baked salmon.
- Roasting veggies with parmesan is another great variation for ominvores.
- you can replace canola oil with extra virgin olive oil. Reduce baking temperature to 360°F/180°C accordingly and bake it a bit longer.
- Instead of fresh garlic you can also use garlic powder.
- Any leftovers can be reheated.
- You could even snack them just cold from the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
Why these veggie balls didn’t really bother me
You know, Brussels sprouts are one of those vegetables my family and me have omitted for a long time. Hey, there are so many other vegetables around we prefer, that passing on this “bitter veggie balls” didn’t really bother me. My mostly plant-based kitchen offers anyway a multitude of different fruits and vegetables throughout the week.
I don’t know about you, but here in Germany baked Brussel sprouts are often served as side dish with roast goose. As none of us really enjoy goose the probability to eat these “mini cabbages” in a restaurant tends to zero. But recently something happened that turned my mind…
Bang Bang Brussel sprouts hype
When it comes to recipe inspirations or smart ideas in general, then Pinterest is my favorite place to go. Some weeks ago I spotted a recipe for “Bang Bang Brussels sprouts” by Lindsay Funston from delish.com that sparked my curiosity.
Can you imagine that this recipe was shared over 178,000 times on Pinterest since February this year. This kind of social proof was something I could not ignore. I had the strong urge to give this easy vegetable side dish a try.
As inspiration I used Lindsay’s recipe with “bang bang” sauce and turned it to a plant based recipe we could enjoy without guilt. Their recipe calls for store-bought chili sauce, but as you have seen I’ve made my own cleaner version instead. I hope you like it.
By the way, just in case you wonder… “Bang Bang” stands for a sweet, sour and spicy Asian sauce that is often used for Asian “Bang Bang chicken”. Nowadays you’ll find many “Bang Bang recipes” that are based on a sweet, sour and spicy sauce.
Nutrition facts & health benefits
Very high in nutrients and vitamins the nutritional value of the vitamin bombs can’t be praised enough. A mere 100 g of Brussel sprouts cover more than 100 percent of our daily requirement of vitamin C.
You’ll find almost 100 studies in PubMed that are concentrated on these mini cabbages. Over half of those studies show a connection between this cruciferous vegetable and cancer prevention. Here is just one study as example.
Furthermore these tender veggies protect us from colds and other infections. On top of that they contain secondary plant substances, which can help with arthritis, asthma and even autism.
Learn more about the many health benefits of Brussel sprouts including their detox support here!
Fiber in Brussel sprouts
These vitamin bombs are also high in fiber, ranking number 5 on our top 30 list of vegetables rich in dietary roughage (see above).
According to Harvard University Health Services about 53 percent of the fiber in the cooked vegetables is the soluble type. The soluble one feeds your gut bacteria, keeps you satiated and can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The remaining 47 percent is insoluble fiber which can promote regularity and support digestive health. Click through to learn more about high fiber foods.
Cabbage type with the highest protein content
Brussel sprouts have the highest protein content of all cabbage types with 4.9 g per 100 g. Given the high value of essential amino acids, this cabbage type is of great importance both for the vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Surprisingly 100 ml milk contains about the same amount of proteins, 5 grams per 100 ml.
Hopefully with this recipe and health benefit information you’ll have much more fun with these veggies in future. Let me know, how you have liked it.
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I love that you added a vegetable twist to a popular dish! Looks great!
Thank you Ellen, I’m glad that you like my plant based Bang Bang creation:)
this sounds like a great recipe for roasted brussels! I typically braise mine, but should totally try this recipe!
Yes, I highly recommend to try this oven roasted version, which turns this slightly bitter veggie into a culinary delight:)
I love trying new flavors and recipes with Brussels sprouts and this is definitely a new favorite! So easy and so delicious!
Yes Kim, this is such an easy recipe I wish my mother had known it at a time when I still refused these healthy veggies.
I can’t wait to try this. We love brussels sprouts anyway, and this sounds delicious! I love that you gave so much nutritional information, too.
You are very welcome Leslie. Don’t wait too long to try this recipe – I’m sure you’ll love this special “bang bang” twist.
I often feel Brussels sprouts are underrated, poor things. When cooked right, they can be utterly delicious and a great side dish to many a meal. This is a great way of adding extra flavour and making them more tasty. Perfect for a celebration dinner.
Since I’m preparing them with a “Bang Bang” sauce I share the same opinion like you, Katherine. They are perfect for a festive side dish but also a sneaky way to increase the consumption of cruciferous veggies throughout the week.
I always look for new ways to cook brussels sprouts. I love them and I’m happy that I found a new way to prepare them.
I’m glad that my “Bang Bang recipe” could inspire you. I’m sure you will like this version too:)
Love this clean version of brussel sprouts packed with so much flavor. They may not smell the best while cooking, but the sure are tasty! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You are very welcome Tara. I’m used to a slightly cabbagey odor when cooking my beloved cabbage recipes, so it doesn’t really bother me.
I have a new appreciation for brussel sprouts and adding the bang bang sauce must take eating your veggies to another level. Love this idea and will try this soon on the family. YUM
Yes absolutely, Ali! The Bang Bang sauce is the secret component which turns this a bit unpopular vegetable into a culinary delight.
I love brussels sprouts, these look so delicious! totally have to try them
I’m glad that my easy recipe could inspire you, Rebecca. It will take your love for these nutrient dense veggies to the next level.
I have been on a mission for the past week to come up with a recipe where I didn’t mind brussels sprouts… they’re just not my favorite. I can, however, think of a handful of people who would love your recipe!
Thank you for your open words. I’ve read somewhere that when you don’t like a food initially it makes sense to try it at least 10 times over a couple of weeks. This way your taste buds get used to it and over time you start to like that food. How often have you tried Brussel sprouts Rae?;)
I have some brussels in my fridge that are begging to be used! I think I know what is for dinner!
I’m glad that my recipe could inspire you, Cindy. If you don’t have Balsamic vinegar you can also replace it with red wine vinegar. Let me know how you have liked it.
Can you use frozen Brussels sprouts?
Hey D,
this is a very good question, but I never tried it. There might be the risk of overcooking them in the oven and then they give off a sulfurous odor that many folks dislike. But you only know for sure when you try it. Good luck:)