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Original poster

To not understand the UK's obsession with sprouts?

136 replies

tawitttawoo · 24/12/2023 01:36

They're vile! Yet the British population seem enamoured with the bloody things. No matter how they're prepared they still taste like farts. We were a no sprouts household when I was younger. DH doesn't like them either.

Every year these we go to another home for Christmas dinner the little bastards are passed around the table, and I just pass them right on by me to the next person. And every year someone calls me out saying "ooh you've not got any sprouts on your plate". Or they'll come over and insist I take some despite me politely declining several times.

We've spent Christmas overseas with relatives several times and sprouts were never served

OP posts:
ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 24/12/2023 07:19

pinklepea · 24/12/2023 04:23

@ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming where do you live? I love sprouts but it's a fact that people I know hate them but will have one a year at Christmas just because. It's like turkey, in England we make roast dinnners all the time but rarely turkey, somehow that's Xmas, same as sprouts. It's somehow a tradition that I have no idea why we do this!

Well, that's just weird. Why on earth would someone eat a vegetable they hate just because it's Christmas? I'm in NZ, and because sprouts aren't traditional Christmas fare here we just eat them because we like them.

Lougle · 24/12/2023 07:12

Halved, boiled for 1 minute, then gently fried in a pan with lardons and chestnuts. So good.

Relaxingweekendmaybe · 24/12/2023 06:56

I love them! Cook them just enough so they have a bit of crunch and sprinkle with salt. I could eat 10 on my plate.

cortex10 · 24/12/2023 06:51

DH refers to them as the Devil's Testicles (and he actually likes then)

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 24/12/2023 05:54

Love you hen and not just for Christmas.

Tasty goodness.

YoureALizardHarry11 · 24/12/2023 05:36

I used to hate sprouts but they have definitely got more palatable since the 90s! I’m sure I read that they grow them to taste better now.

Incidentally, I feel the same way as you do about sprouts, about egg mayonnaise! Every sod seems to like that on a sandwich! The smell is very offensive and makes me gag.

Gumbo · 24/12/2023 05:26

I didn't grow up in the UK and I too am baffled by sprouts and the desire to try to wreck a perfectly good Christmas dinner by adding them to the plate.

I've eaten them cooked in a variety of ways and they all taste grim. If someone serves them to me I'll eat them to be polite, obviously, but I wouldn't buy them

Last year my local Sainsburys overstocked them, and by Boxing Day they were on offer for 30p for a long stalk of the things, then reduced to 13p...and still they sat on the shelves -couldn't even give them away, so clearly a lot of people hate them!

Jk8 · 24/12/2023 05:18

Nat6999 · 24/12/2023 01:38

I adore sprouts steamed, I hated them as a kid when my mum boiled them to a mush. Steaming them brings out the sweetness, they still have some crunch.

Theres no way anybody these days is eating the same ones as in childhood - they've been actively changed - https://www.bhg.com/news/brussels-sprouts-less-bitter/

@KylieJennersMakeUpSponge @Oakbeam @Mrmojorising71 @Newestname002

Here’s Why Brussels Sprouts Really Do Taste Less Bitter Now

You may have noticed a change in the taste of brussels sprouts. Don’t worry—It’s not genetically modified. Find out why you’re likely enjoying brussels sprouts more now than when you were a child.

https://www.bhg.com/news/brussels-sprouts-less-bitter

FindingMeno · 24/12/2023 05:14

Our whole household loves sprouts.
And broccoli, kale, cabbage, spinach, and cauliflower.
Fresh though, not frozen.
All are yuck when frozen.

Charlie2121 · 24/12/2023 05:05

They are by far and away my favourite vegetable. I’d be happy to have them with every meal. How anyone could prefer something like carrots to sprouts is beyond me.

shearwater2 · 24/12/2023 04:57

It's not an obsession, it's just a tradition for many people to have them at Christmas as they are in season, as are root vegetables. I like them, some people don't.

All cultures who celebrate Christmas have their own idiosyncrasies. Carp??? The preponderance of cloves, which taste like a visit to the dentist. The Christmas spider, The Grinch, Krampus, The Yule Cat, The Yule Goat...suddenly eating a seasonal brassica seems rather tame.

Twasmoreorlessthenightbeforechristmaseveve · 24/12/2023 04:41

I love them but the rest of my household hate them so I eat them, they don’t.

I’ve never understood why there are countless features / recipes about how to make sprouts taste not like sprouts. Just don’t eat them.

Aprilx · 24/12/2023 04:25

I love them and eat them all year round. I had a sprout pasta dish for dinner last night. 😋 I’m not “obsessed” though and I do not think the population as a whole is either.

pinklepea · 24/12/2023 04:23

@ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming where do you live? I love sprouts but it's a fact that people I know hate them but will have one a year at Christmas just because. It's like turkey, in England we make roast dinnners all the time but rarely turkey, somehow that's Xmas, same as sprouts. It's somehow a tradition that I have no idea why we do this!

vodkaredbullgirl · 24/12/2023 04:20

Love them

Happy Food GIF by Mypenleaks
ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 24/12/2023 04:19

pinklepea · 24/12/2023 04:15

Still bet the lovers of Brussel sprouts barely eat them through the year. Somehow they are pushed as you must eat at Christmas but actually why is this a tradition!!!

Show quote history

Nonsense. Where I live they aren't eaten at Christmas, as it's summer here. However, they appear on the shelves in winter, and I presume people eat them - I do and like them. I don't like a lot of fruit, you don't like sprouts - we are all different.

hoobanoobie · 24/12/2023 04:19

Dip them in mint sauce. Problem solved.

pinklepea · 24/12/2023 04:15

HRTQueen · 24/12/2023 03:10

I agree they are vile

this week I have been told the reason I don’t like then is because they should be cooked with with lardons, bacon and honey, garlic, butter and pepper, chestnuts and lardons and last recipe advice was maple syrup and bacon 😬 regardless how they are cooked they are still revolting

for some reason people get very passionate about brussel sprouts

Still bet the lovers of Brussel sprouts barely eat them through the year. Somehow they are pushed as you must eat at Christmas but actually why is this a tradition!!!

SinnerBoy · 24/12/2023 04:12

mondaytosunday · Today 03:24

Mind you there are some foods (trifle) that make me gag so I'd never force anything on anyone.

I can eat trifle as long as it has no booze and especially no soggy sponge fingers. I can't stand soggy sponge fingers, or bread.

IAmAnIdiot123 · 24/12/2023 04:06

I love sprouts, I don't force them on others, if anything I'm pleased when people don't like them as I can have a bigger serving.

I am considered a heathen in my family as I don't like roast potatoes 🙈

Devilsmommy · 24/12/2023 04:03

Tessisme · 24/12/2023 01:40

I love sprouts. I eat them even when it isn't Christmas. So there🤣🤣

Ha me too 😆

Topseyt123 · 24/12/2023 03:56

I love sprouts. My DDs think I'm weird and say so as they give me their shares.

I suppose the only downside is the huge farts afterwards, but there's fun to be had with those. 😉🤣

oneflewoverthe · 24/12/2023 03:54

I eat pretty much all veg apart from these. Bitter and horrible. We used to have sprouts at Christmas but they were always wasted. Not bothering this year.

mondaytosunday · 24/12/2023 03:24

Love them, my kids love them too. Mind you there are some foods (trifle) that make me gag so I'd never force anything on anyone.

sleepsuitbag · 24/12/2023 03:18

Frozen sprouts cooked in the oven with bacon fat.... yummm

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