Fry

Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts with Honey and Sriracha

March 28, 2011
4
8 Ratings
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Serves 2 to 4
Author Notes

My husband and I love to go to The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, on a weeknight, sit at the bar, which faces the open kitchen, and order a bunch of appetizers and nibbles. Nibbles are a Vanderbilt specialty. There's great homemade beef jerky and pickles, and blistered shishito peppers with dipping salt, but the undisputed star -- which we order every time we go -- is the fried Brussels sprouts. The sprouts arrive in a towering pile; the leaves are pulled apart and fried, with the sweet hearts tossed into the oil and cooked just to the point of tenderness. The crisp shards are then painted with a mix of sriracha, honey and lime juice, making the sprouts tangy, hot and sweet all at once. In an attempt to replicate these at home, I painstakingly peeled a pound of sprouts and got frying. Happily, I discovered that if you're willing to deal with a little hot oil, you can do a pretty good job of replicating these guys at home. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did! —Merrill Stubbs

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha (or to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • Juice of 1 large lime
  • Salt
  • Vegetable oil for frying
Directions
  1. Trim the stem end of the sprouts and gently separate the leaves with your fingers, collecting them in a large bowl. When you reach the heart of the sprout (where it's tough to pry off the remaining leaves), add the heart to the bowl with the leaves.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the sriracha, honey and lime juice. Taste and add more sriracha or honey if you like. Set aside.
  3. Set about 2 inches of oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Heat until a Brussels sprout leaf begins to sizzle and crisp as soon as you add it to the oil. Fry the sprouts in batches, using a screen to protect you from sputtering oil and keeping your face away from the pot as the sprouts cook. Remove the sprouts with a slotted spoon after 30 seconds to a minute, when crisp and brown. Drain them on a double layer of paper towels while you fry the rest of the sprouts.
  4. Once all the sprouts are fried, transfer them to a large bowl and sprinkle them generously with salt. Toss gently to combine. Working quickly, drizzle some of the sauce over the sprouts and toss again to coat lightly. Taste, add more sauce if necessary, and serve immediately, before they wilt!

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Debbie Ferguson Simmons
    Debbie Ferguson Simmons
  • Chardonnay
    Chardonnay
  • Larry Campf
    Larry Campf
  • kaye.spaude
    kaye.spaude
  • kschurms
    kschurms

59 Reviews

Bradthoc February 9, 2021
These are the easiest and best tasting sprout snack. Heat up the oil while you prepare the sprouts and dump them in. I fry them up a little like my frites. 4 minutes at 325, then pull them out and turn the heat up to 350. Then back in for a few more minutes! Must try these great tasting sprouts.
 
Sasha November 6, 2020
Delicious! I cut the honey in half and doubled the lime juice and it was perfect. I also don't do hot oil so i bake the sprouts apart and roasted them (I'd recommend pre-roasting the hearts by 10-15 mins and then adding all the leaves).
One of my new faves!
 
Debbie F. June 5, 2020
Whoooweeee! Just made this five minutes ago, It's tangy and sweet and spicy. So simple and delish. Would never have thought to put Sriracha on sprouts but it hits the mark. Now sautéing them in garlic, oil oil, s/p will seem so sedate. Thanks for this revelation.
 
Debbie F. June 5, 2020
That would be 'olive oil' not 'oil oil' Lol
 
Chardonnay May 27, 2020
Totally divine....I swapped the honey for pomegranate molasses, and added fresh pomegranate and caramelised onions.....divine!
 
Christina November 22, 2018
These are so delicious!! I have used this recipe probably a dozen times now and cooked it for family and friends who all became OBSESSED. It's easy enough to modify the spicy/sweet ratio if you're feeding people who aren't fond of the Sriracha flavor.
My favorite way to cook them is with Coconut Oil for extra flavor.
 
Larry C. June 6, 2017
We have a place in Baltimore called the Wicked Sisters and they do the same thing! Only difference is that the sprouts are flash fried and then the sauce applied. Either way it is super good!
 
Amber C. November 13, 2016
This sounds amazing but who wants to be frying sprouts right before sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner?
 
kaye.spaude February 18, 2015
PS I didn't make a pound. I made just enough for a little appetizer for one. You don't need to measure.
 
kaye.spaude February 18, 2015
OMG!!! I love brussels sprouts!!!
 
kschurms January 7, 2015
So simple, so full of flavor, and so easy to make. Peeling a pound of brussel sprouts is surprisingly time consuming, but so worth it.
 
Angie November 29, 2014
These are so delicious people keep clamoring for invites to my dinner parties now that they've heard how amazing they are. One of my favorite (and now-a-staple) recipes for special dinners.
 
Alexandra S. November 12, 2014
This sounds SO good. Need to try immediately.
 
Susan W. October 3, 2014
Can't wait to try this. I don't do vegetable oil and can't bear to use my expensive avocado oil or grass fed beef tallow, so I am going to coat in oil and blast it in a really hot oven. The sauce sounds delicious.
 
Ariel P. September 10, 2014
This recipe is AMAZING. The brussels sprouts without the sauce are really good, but when you add the sauce its extra delicious. The sauce is the best part about it. I made brussels sprouts, green beans and salmon burgers and we actually dipped everything in the leftover sauce. I would recommend this recipe to anyone who likes sweet and spicy and doesn't know the true tastiness of brussels sprouts
 
Sirid February 15, 2014
This is the first recipe I've ever tried that actually has me eating brussels sprouts for dinner and nothing else. Just a big bowl of crispy, salty-spicy-sweet brussels sprouts. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmm....
 
bamavb2014 December 21, 2013
These were so good! I did think the sauce was a little too sweet. I would add more sriracha than the recipe calls for next time. Still amazing, though.
 
kzmccaff February 19, 2015
Love this idea! Thanks!!
 
diego November 27, 2013
Coated in Olive Oil, cooked the hearts first in the broiler until crisp and tender, put in the warming drawer, then proceeded with the leaves. Much healthier. But I'll give you thumbs up on the sauce!
 
Ashley M. October 21, 2013
Made these last night with some sweet pepper-encrusted cedar plank grilled salmon. They were exceptionally easy, especially considering my lack of experience with frying in oil deeper than 1/8th" (I usually just pan-fry anything). The sauce was a little hotter than we expected so instead of tossing them in it, we served it on the side for dipping - my boyfriend was in heaven with the sauce, I quite liked them just salted! Thank you so much for helping me switch up a rather mundane green!
 
hb September 20, 2013
Made this last night and it was a hit! I add thinly sliced carrots to the mix. Mos Def a new go to side. THANKS!
 
Marsha B. August 9, 2013
Where do you find siracha?
 
tt August 18, 2013
Chinese stores TNT or other
 
Dimply D. July 28, 2013
Where have you been all my life? This was so good, so easy (except all that peeling) and so satisfying its practically criminal. Wouldn't change a thing. Thanks so much for posting.
 
Georgie June 4, 2013
what is sriracha?
 
Ashley M. October 20, 2013
Hot sauce!
 
Onthecountof23 March 10, 2012
I've made this a number of times since I discovered it and I love the simplicity of it. Makes great lunch too!
 
headdenw February 17, 2012
That was delicious.
 
Laurenzim January 8, 2012
I took just sauteed in olive oil and it was incredible!! Thanks for the great recipe!!
 
FoodandWineSnob December 31, 2011
My husband and I are a fan of the brussel sprouts at the Vanderbilt and he's been bugging me to try to figure out how to make it. Well I stumbled upon this recipe and made it on the fly about 30 minutes ago. I have to say they were spot on! I didn't have a lime so I used a little fresh lemon juice. I also fried four strips of maple bacon and used some of the leftover oil from that to fry the sprouts. Oh and I dry roasted some sesame seeds to add in at the end. Super yummy! Now we don't have to spend every other weekend at the Vanderbilt :-).
 
@SunnyApples September 7, 2011
This was a fantastic dish! I love a sweet and spicy pairing, especially on a food that is traditionally very bitter. This bitter taste generally comes from glucosinolate sinigrin, which has a sulphurous odour. When in doubt - over cook em'!
 
loubaby May 29, 2011
These were absolutely delicious...I only did 1 pound...ran out the next night and made another....so so good...my husband said they are the best Brussels sprouts he has ever had...thanks so much.
 
Thartge May 5, 2011
I have no patience for frying, so I roast mine. Probably not as tasty (cause, really, nothing beats frying in fat), but super-good. And, since we ran out of honey, I've been using brown sugar instead -- adds a nice carmel note, though you have to stir the sauce like the dickens.
 
Renee's K. April 29, 2011
We finally got around to making these tonight. We ate them so fast! YUM!
The sauce is delicious! Tangy and sweet with a bit of a kick. Perfect compliment to the slight bitterness of the sprout. Peeling the leaves were a pain, and really the hearts were the best part so definitely quartering may be better. Have to say, that even with the splatter screen there was a ton of oil everywhere! Will use the dutch oven next time for certain. Thank you for sharing such a tasty treat!
 
EmilyC April 15, 2011
I've had the fried leaves a few times, but never with honey and sriracha. This sounds so good -- thanks for sharing. Even though I don't own it and never will, I saw a recipe for fried brussels sprouts a few weeks ago from the new Modernist Cuisine cookbook. You peel off some of the outer leaves and blanch them, so they're bright green. Then you fry the whole sprout, and sprinkle the green leaves over them. Seems like you could combine the two recipes -- theirs for looks / different presentation, yours for taste! http://modernistcuisine.com/2010/12/a-modernist-christmas-feast/
 
micook April 15, 2011
Ok, these were delicious, but what a mess the kitchen was afterwards! Granted, I didn't have a screen to put over them, but I'm not sure it would have helped much because it's when they hit the grease that the splattering really takes off. Maybe a deeper pot rather than a frying pan?
 
cheese1227 April 15, 2011
Totally agree with both your points. I made them again last night and only put about 2-inches of oil in my Dutch oven and had the lid at the ready to loosely place it over the bubbling oil right after I dropped each batch of sprout leaves into it. I lifted the cover after the initial popping stopped. Worked like a charm and it was easier to clean the lid than the entire stove top and the floor in front of it and the counters to the side of it....
 
Merrill S. April 15, 2011
Sorry you guys had trouble. Cheese1227, your method is actually exactly what I said to do in the recipe: "Set about 2 inches of oil in a large, heavy pot." You don't want to use a frying pan, or a lot of oil, or you will definitely have a big mess! And a splatter screen is a good idea.
 
trefoil April 12, 2011
Can't wait to try these. I've had something very similar at Nombe, a Japanese bar food restaurant in the Mission in San Francisco. Not with the leaves pulled apart but deep fried with a very similar sauce.
 
lexilarkin April 10, 2011
Wow these are so good! The sauce was simple and a perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and sour. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed these, thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
 
bkdice April 9, 2011
I had never actually made brussel sprouts before, believe it or not. This recipe was delicious. I will definitely make them again.
 
amandam1 April 6, 2011
Made this last night, didn't quite get the frying part right so they ended up just sauteed. Still slightly obsessed. And used the AMAZING sauce to pour over leftover pork tenderloin for lunch today. Great recipe, in all reincarnations!
 
cheese1227 April 4, 2011
Made these for lunch. I think I will make more for dinner.
 
Gardengrrl April 2, 2011
Oh, merrill! How wonderful they sound!

We have always adored my husband's Scorched Sprouts, and I'm glad to see this finally hit Food52. Here's what we do: cut fresh sprouts in quarters (all of the leaves will start to fall off---this will save you lots of time over peeling them apart, imho), fry in hot oil, season with s&p. THEN he seasons with prepared mustard, minced garlic, bacon bits, chile flakes, whatever The Cook is in the mood for. SOOOOOO Good!

Jackie
 
Merrill S. April 2, 2011
Yum! And I totally agree with you about the quartering. I had the original version at the Vanderbilt again this week and am reassessing my peeling technique after realizing they probably quarter theirs. Edits coming soon...
 
gorzd April 2, 2011
similar taste, much less oil - toss the sprouts in olive oil, add seasonings, roast in hot oven until crispy - terrific
 
Merrill S. April 2, 2011
Your idea is similar to what Cathy Erway suggested in her piece about these iconic sprouts in Brooklyn Bread: http://issuu.com/brooklynbreadpress/docs/bb_121610 I recommend trying both versions!
 
Susige April 1, 2011
I made this today for my mid-afternoon snack. I didn't crave chocolate, ice cream, or cookies; instead I craved this recipe, Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts. And it was really, really finger licking good. And then I wanted more, so I tried cutting the Brussels Sprouts in half and grilling them until they were caramelized and then dipped them into the honey Sriracha sauce. And they were so good that way too. Thanks for the great recipe!
 
Merrill S. April 2, 2011
So glad you liked them. Love your improvisation with the second round.
 
MHardison79 March 29, 2011
Brussel sprouts have always been the one vegetable I have made sure to avoid...my inner kid just won't let me near them....until now, I just saw this recipe, and I have to make it. Im actually excited to try brussel sprouts, but then again, I think I would eat just about anything with words 'fried' 'honey' and 'sriracha' in the recipe title.
 
Merrill S. April 2, 2011
No kidding on that last part. Let me know what you think!
 
duclosbe1 March 29, 2011
I tried boiled artichokes with lemon butter a couple of weeks ago and really freaked my mom out when I told her how much I loved them. When I was growing up she always talked about how much she hated brussels sprouts, and I know that I will love this dish! I cannot wait to make this and 1) eat it and 2) get my mom's reaction!
 
Merrill S. April 2, 2011
Keep us posted!
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx March 29, 2011
Have you ever baked instead of frying?
 
Merrill S. March 29, 2011
No, but Cathy Erway has -- check out her recipe here: http://issuu.com/brooklynbreadpress/docs/bb_121610
 
fiveandspice March 29, 2011
This is definitely going to become a staple in our house, I can already tell!
 
Merrill S. March 29, 2011
The frying requires a little commitment, but it's so worth it.
 
sweet P. March 29, 2011
WOW! I will definitely be making these tonight. Siracha and Brussel Sprouts. 2 of my favs. can't wait to try this
 
Merrill S. March 29, 2011
Thanks!