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Original poster

What should replace sprouts in a Xmas dinner?

191 replies

TheShed7 · 02/12/2025 18:15

Clearly they take up valuable space that could be better utilised. So what should we have instead? Probably veg is good to have, but let's have a decent one instead.

And let's keep this honest. We are all grown ups here, so nobody needs to pretend to like the balls of doom. Even if you are adding bacon or chestnuts to hide the taste of them.

OP posts:
HelenaWaiting · 03/12/2025 12:46

Elsvieta · 02/12/2025 18:47

All hail the leek

I love sprouts. Leeks can fuck off.

Randomlygeneratedname · 03/12/2025 12:46

As someone with extreme food phobias who has never, even as a child, eaten anything to appease anyone, I bloody love sprouts and would replace almost all the roast before I would loose them. The only thing I like more than sprouts on a Christmas dinner is pigs in blankets.

Natowl · 03/12/2025 12:40

I love sprouts! Send yours my way

gucciandscandal · 03/12/2025 12:38

TheShed7 · 02/12/2025 18:46

There are certain things that people 100% cannot like.

War
Poverty
Murder
Mrs Browns Boys
Coldplay
Sprouts

That's just scientific fact.

All of these… except sprouts!! We have them all the time and not just on a Christmas dinner that would be a waste of sprouts.

But as you don’t like them, cheesy leeks, cauliflower cheese, I’ve got a nice roasted savoy cabbage recipe that might also involve cheese…

UpMyself · 03/12/2025 12:35

PInkyStarfish · 03/12/2025 11:07

Artichoke hearts.

Completely out of season in late December.

UpMyself · 03/12/2025 12:33

@DriveMeCrazy1974 , look at where they've been transported from before you take them out of the packets. They don't taste like freshly picked asparagus.

Wonderwall23 · 03/12/2025 11:18

I like sprouts, although only have them at Christmas.

Would replace with leeks or cauliflower cheese if had to.

OldieButBaddie · 03/12/2025 11:10

I also love sprouts
We eat them with every roast when they are in season!

Parsnips however are a combination of the Devil' work and horse food

Cheesy leeks are a good one, and red cabbage.

OldieButBaddie · 03/12/2025 11:09

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 03/12/2025 11:01

We're adding mangetout and tenderstem broccoli, but as well as sprouts. I like a good chunk of green on the plate, it gives space to the other flavours.

Mange tout are very unseasonal! And also give me flashbacks to the 80s when if you went to dinner at a pub, whatever you ordered you got a little white oval winged plate with mange tout, baby corn and if you were lucky some soggy carrots. Mange tout belong in salads and stir fries IMO!

MrsSkylerWhite · 03/12/2025 11:07

Home made mushy peas are easy and delicious.

Cauliflower? Just, no.

PInkyStarfish · 03/12/2025 11:07

Artichoke hearts.

BillieWiper · 03/12/2025 11:07

Fine green beans in garlic vinaigrette. Or tenderstem broccoli? Or both?

I do love sprouts though!

BruhWhy · 03/12/2025 11:06

Cor I bloody love sprouts. I think people are just traumatised by their mum's overboiled, mushy, bitter sprouts from the 90s.

Roasting mine this year with hot honey drizzle and butter 😍

Anyway, some nicely spiced braised cabbage or some roasted broccoli would do instead if you're determined to be wrong.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 03/12/2025 11:01

We're adding mangetout and tenderstem broccoli, but as well as sprouts. I like a good chunk of green on the plate, it gives space to the other flavours.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 03/12/2025 10:58

Count me as another sprout lover! Oddly though I'm not a fan of kale or broccoli or many of the other green veg except peas. So I need sprouts to even up the colour balance on my plate.

(I don't like gravy very much though...)

Maybeishouldcrochet · 03/12/2025 10:56

I love sprouts. Halved and then fried with chestnuts and bacon lardons and some almonds .. the halving them helps reduce the bitterness

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 03/12/2025 10:54

UpMyself · 03/12/2025 09:03

Asparagus? The asparagus season is late April through to June.
The brussel sprout season is October to December.

You might as well suggest ditching the Christmas pudding and serving strawberries and ice cream instead.

Edited

If they're available in the shop, I'm happy to indulge at Christmas! Life would be very boring if we all stuck to the same stuff now, wouldn't it?!

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 03/12/2025 10:52

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 03/12/2025 08:57

Asparagus! At Christmas, with turkey!

<faints>

Show quote history

I know, shocking! But, I like to do things a bit differently!

Justcallmedaffodil · 03/12/2025 10:06

We all love sprouts, but if we couldn’t have them for any reason… maybe creamed kale?

KittyHigham · 03/12/2025 10:01

fourquenelles · 03/12/2025 09:27

Love a button sprout me. But whatever happened to Jerusalem artichokes? My old nan made pans of these with white sauce.

Ah yes! My Mum used to make delicious artichoke soup which was known in our house as tickly soup, I think because of the slightly grainy quality of it. It was before the days of blenders. Or maybe it was a peppery recipe 🤔 I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Never made it myself but will be on the lookout for them now to give it a go. 😄

Coffeeishot · 03/12/2025 09:59

fourquenelles · 03/12/2025 09:27

Love a button sprout me. But whatever happened to Jerusalem artichokes? My old nan made pans of these with white sauce.

I had jeursalem artichokes in Spain this year they were in a potato salady thing. I don't think i had them before that.

UpMyself · 03/12/2025 09:53

How about cardoons, if you can get them. Organic Cardoons 500g / Riverford

fourquenelles · 03/12/2025 09:27

Love a button sprout me. But whatever happened to Jerusalem artichokes? My old nan made pans of these with white sauce.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 03/12/2025 09:14

UpMyself · 03/12/2025 09:03

Asparagus? The asparagus season is late April through to June.
The brussel sprout season is October to December.

You might as well suggest ditching the Christmas pudding and serving strawberries and ice cream instead.

Edited

Don't give them ideas!

I like Parmesan roast parsnips, which is a Delia Smith recipe and a fixture on our Christmas dinner table. Creamed parsnips and parsnip soup are also good. Plain boiled parsnips wouldn't be.

UpMyself · 03/12/2025 09:10

Coffeeishot · 03/12/2025 09:05

<whispers> I don't like parsnips 😳

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Me neither. They're just about edible if roasted but not if they are boiled.

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