To not understand the UK's obsession with sprouts?

[tawitttawoo]

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

I agree. They’re little balls of evil.

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.

They’re vile when boiled.

But chopped up and sautéed with pancetta and chestnuts, they taste amazing

Love them

I've never tried one.

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

Until last week at a family dinner, I'd never eaten sprouts before (they were steamed along with the other veggies) - so I asked for some to try and I actually really liked them. To me they don't particularly taste that strongly and I really wouldn't say they taste "vile", just like a sort of weak faintly cabbage-esque, slightly sweet taste. I really can't understand what people hate about them.

The UK weather conditions are perfect for growing sprouts, so its a good thing that we like them. They also contain more vitamin C than an orange. I love them! They are also nice chopped up raw in a salad!

No they don't 😩 I accidentally tried them cooked this way one year. Someone told me it was just cabbage in the dish. Still 🤢

Didn't we just have a sprout thread?

I love them.

Dh and I were on holiday in the Canary Islands and it was our wedding anniversary so we picked what seemed a very nice restaurant for our anniversary meal. We ordered the steak which came accompanied with Brussel sprouts. I love sprouts but not with steak. It seemed a bit surreal. dh hates them

I love them! It’s not just UK, they’re a big fan in the US too. Where are you from OP?

It’s fine if you don’t like them though, it’s not mandatory. Weird that you go places that try and force them on you though, that’s rude.

I read somewhere that some people have an enzyme in their saliva that makes sprouts taste bad.

https://www.biotechniques.com/biochemistry/cant-stand-broccoli-or-sprouts-your-oral-microbiome-not-your-fussy-habits-may-be-the-reason/

I can take or leave them and don't know anyone who's 'obsessed' with them - if anything people seem to love being hyperbolic about how awful they are.

I think it makes quite a bit of difference how they're cooked. I honestly don't think they're much different to a bit of cabbage or really any other cruciferous veg. It's what you flavour it with, how you cook it and how much you like veg in general. A lot of the people I know who clutch their pearls when the sprouts come out at Xmas equally would reject boiled broccoli/cauliflower cabbage as a side dish as well and just have potatoes and the like.

They need to be boiled with the ham, latter end obviously, fantastic!

I bloody love sprouts. Sometimes I boil them up but a knob of butter on and eat a whole bowl on their own as a snack

How I wish I had a friend like you.

Coming over for a cuppa and bowl of sprouts!

My daughter loves them, so they feature at every Christmas dinner ☺️.

Another one who loves sprouts

I am another one on the Sprout Fan Club.

Once had a Brussel curry. Delicious, but the aftermath is not worth repeating that particular culinary experience 😂

Love fresh young sprouts when they are gently sautéed in a little seasoned butter, with chestnuts or on their own or a sprinkle of good hard cheese on, or just lightly steamed. Hate them cooked to a mush or if they are frozen. The ones in the shops are slightly smaller, sweeter and nuttier than the ones from my childhood - those really were an acquired taste. 🌹

🤣

We're going to a local Indian restaurant on Christmas day, it's a set menu, both starters and mains are accompanied by fresh seasonal vegetables.
On the advertisement they've got a lovely looking curry with rice, then sprouts and broccoli on the side 🤣

I don't mind a sprout, but they have their place!

Apparently... They are the highest in protein of all the vegetables...

Don't quote me on that though.

My mum used to make sprouts every Christmas despite not one person in the family ever eating them, including her. She just thought it was a Christmas tradition that she had to cook them just for them to end up in the bin. I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody that’s obsessed with them!

There's something worse than sprouts, it's called cauliflower