Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (2024)

By Shannon @ Yup, it's Vegan 18 Comments

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As I mentioned in my post about teriyaki (vegan) meatballs, more than anything else, the Super Bowl is an excuse for my to bring my vegan finger foods A-game. I’m sure that a lot of you are the same way 🙂 Most things are delicious when deep-fried, but there’s something extra fun about these beer-batteredBrussels sprouts. They’re crispy on the outside, and the inside is tender without being mushy. Paired with a homemade maple-mustard sauce, these disappeared really quickly.

Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (1)

Beer-battered Brussels sprouts served up with a smoky, sweet and salty maple-mustard sauce!

As far as the nutrition facts for this recipe, uh, I’ll just briefly point out that at least these will give you a serving of vegetables for the day – leafy greens at that! No guilt here, the Hawks are in the big game and that’s reason to celebrate!

Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (2)

Idon’t make fried foods at home very often(I believe my previousfried recipe on the blog was the Chipotle-style tofu sofritas in July 2014, and that was pan-fried, not deep fried). So I don’t own a dedicated fryer or anything like that. I simply take my largest skillet and fill it with a couple of inches of oil, and use a thermometer to control the oil temperature. Making sure that the oil is very hot, and that you don’t crowd the pan (thus reducing the oil temperature upon adding the ingredients to it), is essential if you want to minimize the amount of oil that you actually end up eating.

Mymost-fried food is probably gobi manchurian, a spicy Indochinese fried cauliflower dish… but I’m really pleased with the fried Brussels sprouts results and think I’llcontinue having these from time to time.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy the beer-battered Brussels sprouts paired with any sauce you like, but in particular I recommend the maple-mustard sauce recipe I included, or a creamy sauce, like a vegan chipotle mayo. You want something with some body and not too aggressive of a flavor. As far as what beer is best in this batter, most beer works, but I suggestlager. I would avoid anything withmore pronouncedbitter undertones (such as coffee stout…) since the Brussels sprouts already add a bitter note.

Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (3)

Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (4)

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5 from 2 votes

Crispy vegan beer-battered Brussels sprouts served with a sweet and salty maple-mustard sauce.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, nut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword beer-battered brussels spouts

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 8 side servings

Calories 139kcal

Author Yup, it's Vegan

Ingredients

For the beer-battered Brussels sprouts:

  • 1 lb Brussels sprouts (450g) stemmed and halved, with the outer layer of leaves removed
  • vegan beer batter (below)
  • neutral oil for frying (I suggest peanut oil or organic canola oil)
  • dipping sauce for serving (suggestion below)

For the beer batter:

  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup white rice flour or cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 12 oz beer (1 bottle)

For the maple-mustard sauce:

  • 2 and 1/2 tbsp prepared mustard (I use spicy brown mustard)
  • 2 and 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce (or use soy sauce, optional)

Instructions

To prepare the maple-mustard sauce:

  • Whisk together all of the ingredients in a bowl, and adjust seasonings to taste.

To blanch the Brussels sprouts:

  • Prepare a bowl of ice water, and bring a pot of water to a boil.

  • Once the water is boiling, add the Brussels sprouts. Leave them in the water until they turn bright green. This took about 5 minutes for me but can vary depending on the size of your Brussels sprouts. Make sure not to overcook them.

  • Remove the sprouts from the pot and transfer them immediately into the ice water to stop the cooking process.

  • Set the sprouts in a colander to drain, or gently pat them dry with paper towels. You want them to be as dry as possible before you batter them.

For beer-battering and frying the Brussels sprouts:

  • Add about 2 inches of oil in a large, heavy pan on the stovetop, and heat the oil until over medium heat until hot - about 365 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Mix together the flours, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Pour in the beer and stir just until combined. Do not over-mix. If the batter seems too thin to coat the Brussels sprouts, add a little more flour as needed.

  • Add the Brussels sprouts to the batter (I do this in a few batches) and coat them. Then transfer them to the hot oil, making sure to leave plenty of space between them and not crowd the pan (otherwise, they'll come out greasy and not crispy).

  • Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown. Use tongs or a heat-safe slotted spoon to transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels. (Optional) sprinkle the beer-battered Brussels sprouts with coarse salt immediately after they come out of the fryer.

  • Enjoy immediately.

Notes

I haven't tried it, but gluten-free all-purpose flour would probably work. Same goes for gluten-free beer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1eighth recipe | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 321mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 4000IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Fried Brussels sprouts technique adapted from We are Not Martha. This post contains an affiliate link; see my advertisem*nt policy for details.

Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (5)

Love this recipe for beer-battered Brussels sprouts but looking for something healthy? Check out my recipe for bakedBrussels sprout tater tots! Or roast them and stick ’em on a Brussels sprout banh mi with mango sauce.

Beer-battered Brussels Sprouts Recipe | yupitsvegan.com (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my brussel sprouts get crispy? ›

Roast the Brussels Sprouts at high heat

If you don't hear them crisping up in the oven, add a little more oil and roast them for a few more minutes until your desire crispiness is achieved!

Do you need to blanch brussel sprouts before frying? ›

Parboiling Brussels sprouts before frying is a good technique to ensure they cook evenly and become tender on the inside while allowing for a crispy exterior when fried. However, it's not always necessary but we think it works here to create a soft middle and crisp exterior in the pan.

How do you keep Brussels sprouts from getting soggy? ›

Steaming and boiling use moist heat, and moist heat can make Brussel Sprouts mushy and stinky—not a good combo. Give them the treatment they deserve by roasting them instead.

How do you make Brussels sprouts not mushy? ›

The easiest and best way I know is to roast at high temperature. Trim the woody ends off the sprouts, and if they're large, cut in half. Toss in a bowl with salt, pepper, olive oil. Spread out on a sheet pan and put in a 500°F oven for 20 minutes, reaching in with a spoon or spatula to turn them over at least once.

Do you cook Brussels sprouts face up or down? ›

Roast 'em! Our two rules: place and space! Place them cut side down to create that slightly crunchy exterior and soft interior. Space them out evenly so they don't steam–a crowded sheet pan party is not where your brussels want to be.

Why soak Brussels sprouts before cooking? ›

The soak time tenderizes the sprouts so the middles are softer. Don't worry, they won't be soggy! I would never do that to you. If, like me, you don't mind some chew to your sprouts, you don't need to soak the Brussels sprouts prior to cooking.

Should you boil Brussels sprouts before frying? ›

Your first step should always be to blanch the brussels sprouts. This is basically when they get submerged in boiling water just for a few minutes, not until they're fully cooked, but just enough to take away some of the bitterness. Blanching also softens them and preserves their beautiful bright green color.

Should I cut brussel sprouts in half before blanching? ›

Prepare the vegetables: leave them whole or cut them in half if large, then blanch them in salted boiling water until crisp-tender (al dente), about 4 min. Drain well, then serve.

What happens if you don t blanch brussel sprouts before freezing? ›

Can you freeze raw Brussels sprouts without blanching? You can you freeze uncooked Brussels sprouts, but you'll need to be aware that they may be a little softer than if you blanched them (so keep an eye on the cooking time). Plus, they won't keep in the freezer for as long.

Should you cut Brussels sprouts in half before cooking? ›

To maximize the flat areas, which get the most crispy surface area, cut your Brussels sprouts in half. If your Brussels sprouts are very small, you can leave them whole (and if they are very large, quarter them).

Why do brussel sprouts taste bad sometimes? ›

The bitter taste of Brussels sprouts comes from compounds called glucosinolates and their degradation products, he explains. These bitter tasting compounds are an important part of the plant's defence mechanism against leaf-eating enemies, such as insects, nematodes, slugs, and herbivores, like pigeons and deer.

Why do my Brussels sprouts taste weird? ›

If brussels sprouts taste bitter to you, you may have a gene that senses bitter compounds in brassicas. It is similar to the gene that makes cilantro taste like soap to the people who have it, and like a yummy herb to people who don't.

Why aren't brussel sprouts bitter anymore? ›

Over the last twenty years, farmers have mellowed the "unpleasant" flavor of brussels sprouts by breeding a vegetable that contains fewer bitter compounds or glucosinolates. So, brussels sprouts just taste better than they used to when we were kids. The rub is that glucosinolates help protect sprouts against pests.

Why are my brussel sprouts not forming tight heads? ›

The usual cause is poor soil, lack of growth and especially the use of non-hybrid cultivars. Only hybrid cultivars can be relied on to produce firm sprouts. Excessive nitrogen fertiliser is not implicated in loose sprout formation.

Why do my Brussels sprouts get mushy in the oven? ›

Moisture is the enemy of crispiness.

There's nothing wrong with soft and chewy Brussels, but if your goal is the type of crispy Brussels that they're serving at your favorite bistro you MUST thoroughly dry the surface of the sprouts before sautéing and/or roasting them. If they are wet they will steam instead of crisp.

Why are my Brussel sprouts dry? ›

According to Eating Well, it all comes down to the oil. Unless you roast your Brussels sprouts with oil, the heat of the oven sucks out their moisture. Oil allows them to both brown and soften, achieving the perfect texture that's neither soggy nor dry.

What happens if you cook brussel sprouts too long? ›

Overcooking Brussels sprouts is where the stereotypical stinkiness comes from, so a quicker cooking time keeps the veggies sweet rather than bitter.

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