For many people, brussels sprouts are a must at every roast dinner, but they become even more important during Christmas. And with the festive season fast approaching, now might be the perfect time to try some new ways of preparing them to see which one tastes best.
That way, you’ll know exactly how to impress when it comes to the big day. While there are many ways to cook sprouts, one method has been described by food lovers as “life-changing”. It only involves one appliance, uses less oil than traditional roasting, and still delivers perfectly crispy results.
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Todd and Diane, who run the food blog White On Rice Couple, say air frying sprouts gives them a crunchy outside while keeping the inside tender.
And because it frees up the oven, it’s also ideal when you’ve got a turkey, roasties and stuffing all cooking at the same time.
They explained: “These air fryer brussels sprouts come out so fantastic, perfectly crispy and oh soooo good. It's a life changing way to make Brussels sprouts crispy.”
They also said it is the best way to get results using less oil and time, calling it a game-changer for Christmas or any other holiday meals.
The simple method involves cutting the sprouts, coating them in a mix of oil, vinegar and seasoning, and then letting the air fryer do the work.
You only need one appliance, a few ingredients, and about 20 minutes. It’s fast, low-fuss, and gives you more room in the oven for everything else.
Air fryer brussels sprouts recipe
Ingredients:
- 450g brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or more if needed)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
Method:
- Cut the brussels sprouts in half. If they’re large, cut them into quarters for even cooking.
- Put them in a bowl and drizzle the oil and balsamic vinegar over the top. Toss everything together so the sprouts are well coated. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, and garlic powder if using. Mix again until the marinade is evenly absorbed.
- Place the sprouts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd them and cook in batches if needed.
- Set the air fryer to 180C (360F) and cook for 15-20 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even crisping. You can also stir again near the end if needed.
- Once golden and crispy, remove from the basket and season with extra salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Additional tips:
- If the sprouts are very firm, you can parboil them briefly before air frying.
- For bigger batches, add 1-2 minutes extra cooking time and give an extra shake.
- Preheating the air fryer can help speed up the first batch.
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