Food For Thought — Bang Bang Brussels

A simple frozen vegetable can be transformed into a culinary masterpiece.

Many choose to write off certain food, especially vegetables if they had them prepared in a bland or unappetizing way. I feel brussels sprouts have an unusually bad reputation, and yet I absolutely love them.

Growing up my mom would steam them and add lemon juice. They were good that way, but now I prefer them roasted. When you toss them lightly in olive oil and balsamic and sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then roast them at 425 degrees for thirty to forty minutes they are brilliant.

Last night I tried a new recipe. Bang Bang Brussel Sprouts with coconut rice and diced mango. All I can say is wow! The rice was slightly sweet which contrasted nicely with the slightly spicy and tangy Brussels.

Bang Bang Brussels

• 1 bag frozen Brussel sprouts, thawed and each cut in half lengthwise
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 2 T. sweet chili sauce
• 1 heaping T. Sriracha
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• sprinkle of salt
• 2 T. olive oil

Mix the last six ingredients in a bowl and pour over the Brussels, tossing well to coat. Place in a 9x13 baking dish and bake at 425 degrees 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until slightly charred and crispy.

Coconut Rice

• 1 C. minute rice
• 1 can coconut milk (generally found in the Asian section of grocery)
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1 T. brown sugar
• sprinkle of salt

Bring coconut milk to a boil. Add rice and the remaining ingredients. Return to a boil stirring. Cover and remove from heat for five minutes. Return to medium-low heat and stir until liquid is absorbed (similarly to risotto).

Bringing it all together

Serve a spoonful of rice on the center of each plate. Top with a generous amount of Brussels. Place mango around the outside of the rice. And voila!

Conclusion

Our taste buds change every couple of weeks. I hope you will re-try some foods you thought you did not like. Consider preparing them in a different way.

As I say in each Food for Thought, experiment, and cook intuitively. Food nourishes our body, but also our soul. Allow all of your senses to participate. If you don’t have fresh mango — use canned. That is what I did last night because I was not able to find a ripe juicy fresh mango.

Trista Signe Ainsworth has a beautiful perspective on enjoying food. She says,

“Treating food with love leads to a healthy body. In my life, I experimented with many different eating styles. What works best for me is to enjoy food to the fullest.”

Please read this article by Trista Signe Ainsworth to see how enjoying food is part of a healthy lifestyle.

Thank you for reading! Do you cook at home? Please feel free to share your favorite recipe or dish.

Bon Apetit,

Libby