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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:
DinoLil · 02/12/2025 19:39

Er, absolutely nothing. In fact, replace all of the Christmas lunch with sprouts, preferably left on to boil for 24hrs. Served with gravy, a sprinkle of chestnuts and job done!

Fiftyandme · 02/12/2025 19:36

ETA - I’m having sprouts tonight - finely shredded in a potato subji

BansheeOfTheSouth · 02/12/2025 19:36

weaselwords · 02/12/2025 18:17

Nothing. Nothing can replace their perfection.

Exactly. Love sprouts. Eat them all year.

Neice also loves them, she'd happily have nothing but sprouts and butter for dinner.

Fiftyandme · 02/12/2025 19:35

Utterly unreasonable. However, in the spirit of appreciating your entirely poor taste in vegetables I give you - cheesy leeks topped with garlic butter crumb topping finished quickly under the grill

BorisKilledMyHusband · 02/12/2025 19:35

Anything you like. Just get rid of the fuckers.

gogomomo2 · 02/12/2025 19:34

I love sprouts, I just think many people overcook them. I prefer to microwave them in a microwave steamer

Coconutter24 · 02/12/2025 19:33

TheShed7 · 02/12/2025 19:18

You sound like a Coldplay fan

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Absolutely not!! Everything on that list should be on that list but the comments prove the sprouts don’t deserve to be on it

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/12/2025 19:32

catontheironingboard · 02/12/2025 19:12

I dislike sprouts, but really like kalettes, which are like a cross between sprouts and kale. Like curly little dark green buds, but they taste nutty and fresh, not sprouty. Ideal sprout substitution for Christmas dinner!

lecoindemel.com/kalettes-the-love-child-of-kale-brussel-sprouts-kalettes-12-ways/

We also sometimes do a dark savoy cabbage instead of sprouts too.

Edited

I haven’t seen any of those for ages! Where do you get them?

Kibble19 · 02/12/2025 19:31

Agree with the Yorkshire pudding replacement. But if we’re talking vegetables, it sweetcorn for me. Bit of salt and butter on it. Voilla. 😍

Alicorn1707 · 02/12/2025 19:30

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.

aha! you have now revealed yourself as a heathen @TheShed7 😆

Mrs Brown's boys!!!!!!! eta; is that you Brendan?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/12/2025 19:30

We like sprouts! Just plain, no need to tart them up.

PistachioTiramisu · 02/12/2025 19:30

What is wrong with sprouts? They taste nice - I get the baby ones and just boil for 10 - 15 minutes - they are fine.

BasiliskStare · 02/12/2025 19:30

Shredded sprouts with bacon lardons and a wee bit of cream are lovely. I admit we started doing them this way because DH doesn't like spouts so - sprouts incognito But nice sprouts are lovely , not overcooked on their own. I like the sound of Kallettes - will investigate that. Also leeks I love - roasted - big tick .
This may be because when my mother was pregnant with me she craved raw sprouts - to the extent my father went to a neighbour one evening and asked if he could have some from his vegetable patch. Now , I am sure that is not hw it works , but my mother loves sprouts as does my son.

And just to echo a previous poster - will no-one think of the bubble and squeak.

I am all for people making their own choices , but I am a sprout lover & will stand and say it in the manner of Spartacus and his mates.

Each to their own. 😁( couldn't find a sprout emoji - but consider it intended )

TwoLeggedGrooveMachine · 02/12/2025 19:30

Best thing about being an adult at Christmas is not having to choke down sprouts whilst trying not to cry or vomit. I’m with you OP.

Pollqueen · 02/12/2025 19:29

Millytante · 02/12/2025 19:21

“Real butter”? As opposed to……

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As opposed to "I can't believe it's not butter"! Real butter - not spread or margarine

PandoraSocks · 02/12/2025 19:28

Pollqueen · 02/12/2025 19:27

Yes, roast parsnips and 🥕 are as mandatory as sprouts!

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Agree. But no to boiled carrots. Yes to roast carrots.

PandoraSocks · 02/12/2025 19:27

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 02/12/2025 18:25

Literally anything would be better replacing the sprouts of wrath.
No other vegetable looks like this.

We are going to fall out if you keep disrespecting the sprouts!😡

Sprouts stir fried with olive oil, lemon and chillies are perfection.

Pollqueen · 02/12/2025 19:27

MiddleAgedDread · 02/12/2025 19:18

They should be as well as the sprouts, not instead of!

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Yes, roast parsnips and 🥕 are as mandatory as sprouts!

DappledThings · 02/12/2025 19:26

Millytante · 02/12/2025 19:21

“Real butter”? As opposed to……

Show quote history

Margarine I assume. I just say butter for both but if I mean real butter I call it butter butter!

mumofoneAloneandwell · 02/12/2025 19:23

I love sprouts

Otherwise I will say peas 🥰

Millytante · 02/12/2025 19:21

Pollqueen · 02/12/2025 18:30

I love properly cooked brussel sprouts with some real butter and ground black pepper so I would learn to cook them properly and not replace them with anything

“Real butter”? As opposed to……

Gingernaut · 02/12/2025 19:21

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 02/12/2025 18:18

Brocoli and/or cauliflower. There's also green beans. I actually like a sprout or 2 once a year but equally if I never saw another one I'd be fine, whereas loss of those other 3 veg would make me sad.

Green beans, definitely

BarnacleBeasley · 02/12/2025 19:20

Actually I have just remembered how much I dislike roasted parsnips

RedToothBrush · 02/12/2025 19:19

Sprouts make fabulous coleslaw.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 02/12/2025 19:19

But sprouts are the bomb....why on earth would I replace them with anything???

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