Brussels sprout is very high in nutrients and antioxidants. Some of the vitamins it possesses in high quantity include vitamin C, which helps in strengthening the immune system, and vitamin K, which is needed by the body to keep the bones healthy. It has been found that people who ate at least two cups of Brussel sprouts daily had less damage to their cells than those who did not.
Brussels sprout can serve as a healthy side dish to most of our main courses. There are multiple ways to cook it but the most nutritious and, at the same time, most delicious method is to steam brussels sprouts. It is an easy process and we will tell you all about the different methods you can use to do it.
Popular Methods to Steam Brussels Sprouts
Steamed Brussels Sprouts Recipe
The steamed Brussels sprouts recipe is not as complicated as most recipes seem when you are trying them out for the first time. It is a simple process that might take you less than ten minutes.
Start with taking a large pot and pour water in it until it is half full. Insert the steamer basket in the pot. Make sure the water that you filled does not touch the steamer basket. Now, bring the water to a boil. Trim three pounds of small or medium Brussels sprouts. Add them to the steamer basket after the water has boiled. Season it with salt and then cover the pot with its lid to let the steam from the boiling water cook the sprouts. Steam it for six to eight minutes. Keep checking in between and changing its position. The final result should be bright green Brussels sprouts with a bit of tenderness to them.
After they have been cooked, take it out in a bowl and season it with salt and pepper. You can toss it with two tablespoons of finely chopped chives and three tablespoons of unsalted softened butter. And it is done! You can serve it right there and then.
Steam Brussel Sprouts in a Pan
Another way to steam Brussels sprouts on the stovetop is in a pan. This process is as simple as that involving the use of a steamer basket. Take a large pan and pour enough water in it to cover the bottom half of the pan. We only need enough water to create moisture for the Brussels sprouts to cook. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and bring the water to a boil.
Next, trim the stalks of the Brussels sprouts and cut them all into equal sizes. Sprinkle them with salt and add it to the pan. Cover the pan and cook for five to seven minutes. Open it in between for checking and tossing it around. It would be done when you put a fork through it and it seems tender.
You can use the same seasonings as the above methods or you can use this new one: clean the pan and melt one tablespoon of unsalted butter in it. Also, add a tablespoon of olive oil. Add in two cloves of chopped garlic and cook it until it is brown. Immediately add in the steamed Brussels sprouts and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Mix everything. And you have yourself some creamy steamed Brussels sprouts!
Steam Brussel Sprouts in the Microwave
As easy as the above recipes seem, you may not have a steamer basket at hand. Or maybe you simply do not want to go through the hassle of having to clean multiple kitchen utensils. Well, we have an easier method which is as quick, if not quicker, as all the above methods. As a bonus, it only requires a bowl. In this method, we will teach you how you can steam Brussels sprout in the microwave.
Get a microwavable bowl and add only about a quarter cup water. After trimming and cutting the Brussels sprouts, add them in the bowl. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Cover it with a plater or anything that fits nicely and would only allow a bit of steam to escape from the bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave and cook it for six to eight minutes. Check every two minutes for tenderness and move the sprouts around for even cooking.
After it is done, take it out and drain the water from it. Add in half a cup of shredded cheese. Cook it in the microwave for a few seconds until the cheese has melted. Take it out and mix it with half a cup of finely crushed cornflakes and one tablespoon of melted butter. And your microwave steamed Brussels sprouts are ready!
Steamed Brussel Sprouts Nutrients
As mentioned in the beginning, the steamed Brussels sprouts nutrients are very beneficial for health. It includes a wide range of vitamins and minerals. This vegetable is low in calories and high in fibre. This high amount of fibre helps to maintain a healthy gut. There are small amounts of iron, magnesium and vitamin B6.
Antioxidants are another thing Brussels sprouts is famous for. It has been found that Brussels sprouts have kaempferol which can help calm down inflammation, improve the health of the heart and even, reduce cell growth in case of cancer. If this is not enough, it also aids in reducing the sugar level of blood. Fibre makes sure the blood does not consume too much sugar by moving slowly through the body. It helps insulin work more effectively.
Conclusion
We have walked you through more than one method of how you can steam Brussels sprouts. It is not a process that requires too much time, care or attention. You can easily make it as a last-minute resort. It is important to keep checking for its doneness in intervals because it leaves a sulphur odour when overcooked which is quite unpleasant.
Next, we have told you the multiple health benefits that this vegetable possesses. There are even more that are still being studied and discovered. From all this, it is evident that having a cup or two of this vegetable daily can help our bodies more ways than we can imagine.
