Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Bread Pudding Recipe (2024)

  • Food
  • Recipes
  • Side Dishes
  • Vegetable Side Dishes

4.0

(8)

8 Reviews

Unlike many of my friends, I didn’t grow up eating mushy boiled brussels sprouts. In fact, I didn’t officially meet brussels sprouts until my twenties, and then it was love at first bite.The year was 2003, and my husband and I had just moved to London, into a small apartment right above Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill. Several days a week, the streets below would blossom with fruit and vegetable stalls, their makeshift tents and barrels of delicious treasures spilling out onto the road. Our first year there was also our first time living in the Northern Hemisphere, and every season bought new surprises. For our first Christmas, we hosted an “orphan’s lunch” featuring a motley crew of expats and displaced souls looking for that feeling of family far away from home. My husband roasted an unfamiliar bird (it may have been pheasant), and we dined on celery root soup and roasted brussels sprouts. From that moment on, and for every ensuing Christmas we spent in London, I vowed that brussels sprouts would always be on my holiday menu.Our brussels-sprouts-for-Christmas pledge hit a snag when we returned home to Australia to realize that December (our summer) was not the season for brussels sprouts down under. It was back to seafood lunches, cold ham, and salads for the holidays. And while we could find cold-storage brussels sprouts at larger supermarkets, it never felt quite right tucking into a plate of hot roasted sprouts while sweat collected on our brows.When we moved to New York, there was great comfort in being reunited with the holiday food we fell in love with years earlier. It was also a relief to be able to turn on the oven to prepare our Christmas feast. This Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Bread Pudding is one of the crowd-pleasing mains we consistently serve during the holidays. I started making it a few years ago as a hybrid recipe, inspired by the bread puddings we ate for dessert in Australia and the Thanksgiving stuffing that is served here in America. You can use any bread for this pudding, but I do adore the airiness of brioche.The best thing about this dish is that you can effortlessly prep ahead. I always put it together the night before, leave it in the fridge overnight, and then bake it the next day. There is definitely a skill in emerging from the holidays unscathed, and this recipe is a great one to have up your sleeve to give yourself a break when you need it most.

ByHetty McKinnon

Updated on July 20, 2023

Tested by

Tested by

Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time.

Trending Videos

Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Bread Pudding Recipe (1)

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 large shallots, finely sliced

  • 12 ounces brussels sprouts, trimmed and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)

  • 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided

  • 8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced

  • 1/4 cup salted butter, divided

  • 10 large fresh sage leaves, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 5 large eggs

  • 3 cups whole milk

  • 1 (14-ounce) loaf brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 4 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1 1/4 cups)

  • 5 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add shallots; cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots have softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add brussels sprouts and garlic; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring often, until sprouts have softened, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook, stirring often, until mushrooms are softened and slightly caramelized, about 4 minutes. Add sage, and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly, about 15 minutes.

  2. Beat eggs and milk in a medium bowl; season with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and remaining 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Cut remaining 3 tablespoons butter into cubes. Add cubed butter, brioche cubes, Gruyère, and Parmesan to brussels sprouts mixture in skillet; gently toss to combine. Pour egg mixture brioche mixture; let stand 15 minutes to allow bread to absorb egg mixture. (At this point, you can place it in the fridge for several hours or overnight. When ready to cook, take it out of the fridge, and let it come to room temperature before baking.)

  3. Bake in preheated oven until golden and center is set, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Bread Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

When not to use Brussels sprouts? ›

If any of the leaves have brown spots or are yellowing, it's a sign of early spoilage. If you remove the blemished leaves and the interior looks OK, you can still use the sprout. However, if the interior leaves are also showing blemishes or yellowing, it's best to toss it (or compost it, if you can).

What does soaking Brussels sprouts in salt water do? ›

For best results, soak your Brussels sprouts in salt water. Not only does salt act to tenderize the dense sprouts, but it will also help to season them all the way through. It won't take a lot -- just add 1 tablespoon of salt per 1 quart of water and toss in trimmed and halved Brussels sprouts.

Do you need to blanch Brussels sprouts before baking? ›

Like all cabbages, Brussels are unavoidably fibrous and dense. You must overcome this by either cooking them in salty water until fork tender (blanching), or by roasting at a high (over 425F) temperature for upwards of 20 minutes. To guarantee great texture, do both!

Why are restaurant brussel sprouts better than homemade? ›

The combination of techniques, searing then roasting, is what gives restaurant Brussel Sprouts the upper hand on the until-now pathetic homemade variety. Eureka! Avoid using a glass baking dish with very high sides, as this will trap moisture inside the pan, causing the sprouts to steam rather than roast.

What is one major side effect of eating Brussels sprouts? ›

Like other cruciferous veggies, Brussels sprouts have a type of carbohydrate that your body can't easily break down. This can cause you to have belly pain, gas, and either diarrhea or constipation.

Is it okay to eat Brussels sprouts every day? ›

Is it OK to eat Brussels sprouts everyday? Go for it. “If you enjoy sprouts and can tolerate them, absolutely! They're lower in calories and contain a myriad of important nutrients” says Snyder.

Why do you 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.

Why are my Brussels sprouts soggy in the oven? ›

Not using enough oil.

The other secret to ridiculously crispy Brussels sprouts is tossing them in plenty of oil. We like to use olive oil, but plain vegetable oil is great too. If the sprouts are well-coated, they'll caramelize and char instead of simply softening in the oven.

Do you need to cut the ends off Brussels sprouts? ›

Individual sprouts: Brussels sprouts sold by the pound are what you find most often at the market. They need to be trimmed of their dry ends and yellowed or damaged leaves before halving and cooking.

What gives Brussels sprouts a better taste? ›

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.

Which is healthier, broccoli or Brussels sprouts? ›

While broccoli may have a higher count of calories, fat, and carbs, it is richer in calcium, iron, and pantothenic acid (a B vitamin that does wonders for healthy hair), and has a bit more potassium. Brussels sprouts, on the other hand, are lower in sodium.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook Brussels sprouts? ›

Add the brussel sprout halves to a bowl with 1-2 tbsp olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, red chilli powder and salt. 4. Spread them on a baking tray with no parchment paper, with the center FACE DOWN. Bake or airfry at 400F for about 20-25 minutes.

How can you tell if Brussels sprouts have gone bad? ›

Throw out fresh brussel sprouts that have a foul odor, yellow or wilted leaves, a mushy or slimy texture, or dark spots. Use fresh brussel sprouts within 1–2 weeks of getting them. Store the brussel sprouts in a plastic bag inside your fridge, and wash them before cooking them.

How long will sprouts last in the fridge? ›

Sprouts last up to six weeks when properly refrigerated. Once you've harvested your sprouts, learn how to prep and store sprouts in the fridge. Remove the hulls. Remove the hulls from your sprouts if you haven't already and give them a final rinse under cool water.

Why do my Brussels sprouts taste weird? ›

Some people might have one of each form of the PTC gene, allowing them to have a partially working receptor and only taste part of the bitterness. On the other hand, some people will have both copies of the bitter-tasting PTC gene.

Will shredded Brussels sprouts turn brown? ›

While it may be more convenient to have pre-chopped Brussels sprouts on hand, they will spoil a bit quicker, so it's a good idea to enjoy them within three to four days. Once they take on a yellowish-brown or black color and develop a squishy texture, you know it's time to toss 'em.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5681

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.