The New Chip on the Block: Brussels Sprout Chips
Oct 21, 2015, Updated Jul 14, 2017
We’ve been chipifying everything from the produce department since that first brave soul decided to see what roasting would do to kale leaves a decade or so ago.
The kale chip has been joined, over time, by the carrot chip, parsnip chip, zucchini chip, butternut chip, beet chip, turnip chip and anything else creative home cooks could get their hands on.
Whether in home or commercial kitchens, roasting and toasting thin vegetables to crispy perfection is a certifiable thing.
Last year for October Unprocessed, I showed you how to make baby bok choy chips. If you haven’t tried that yet, I encourage you to break free of your kale chip obsession and give bok choy a whirl.
And if you’re ready to move on to the next chip today, let’s make Brussels sprout chips.
Yeah, America’s most hated vegetable — the one people despise before they even try it — is actually GREAT when you chipify it.
Sure, this vegetable villain can be bitter or sulfurous when cooked too long, but it’s a nutritional powerhouse, which trumps its stinky reputation. Cruciferous Brussels sprouts support the body’s detox, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory systems — three systems closely associated with cancer prevention.
Pros: Nutrient-dense, high-fiber, low-calorie, gluten-free, Paleo, vegan, very low on the Glycemic Index, no saturated fat or cholesterol. And did I mention delicious?
Con: Bad word-of-mouth. You’ll have to convince the sprout haters to try them.
Let’s see if we can turn around Brussels sprouts’ image using this one chip-making technique, without using a fancy PR firm to do it.
(And if you are already a B.S. fan or want another way to useย them,ย also try this magnificent Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Parmesan and Dates, which will make your eyes roll back in your head when you taste it.)
Brussels Sprout Chips
Ingredients
- 15 Brussels sprouts
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- A few grains of salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350ยฐF.
- With a small paring knife, cut off the bottom tip of each sprout. This will release the outermost leaves; put leaves in a large mixing bowl. Continue to trim a thin slice more off the bottom stem, teasing each layer of leaves off, and adding them to the bowl. Stop when you have removed all the leaves and you are left with the heart or core of the sprout. (Save cores to roast later if you like.)
- When you have removed all leaves you can, toss the leaves gently with the oil, sprinkle ever so lightly with salt. (Really, do NOT have a heavy hand with the salt because the salty flavor intensifies with roasting. Just sift a few grains between your thumb and forefinger.) Lay leaves in one layer on a rimmed baking sheet. The leaves, during tossing, will want to cup together, so take care to remove them from nesting together as you arrange them on the baking sheet. They need to toast in one layer for best results.
- Roast for 10-15 minutes, until leaves are lightly browned and crisp. The wide variation in time is because of the differences between home ovens. Check at 10 minutes, and remove any that you think are done, putting the rest back in for another minute or 2; check again and remove those that are done. You don't want the entire leaf to be fully toasted or it will be too bitter. You'll get the hang of it and your oven's peculiarities after the first batch.
Nutrition
How would you store these? And would you recommend a shelf life?
Alexandra, we always eat them right away, so I don’t have experience storing them or with a shelf life. My gut says you should plan to eat them, not store them. Hope you try them!
What an original recipe with Brussel sprouts. Looks delish!
Thanks Del!
This is definitely the recipe that can turn their bad PR image around – haha! Actually, I adore Brussels sprouts, and roasting is one of my very favorite ways to prepare them! This incredibly simple recipe is such a great alternative to less-healthy snacks like potato chips. Such a terrific idea!
Thanks Shelley! So much of life is about image and PR, isn’t it?
Awesome idea, I could eat the tray of them!
Thanks Tara. You could, and I DID!
I adore brussels sprouts chipsโi think they’re much yummier than kale chips (which get all the glory ๐
Jusine, I completely agree with you. They ARE better!