Sweet and Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

One of my all time favorite items to make in the Fall is roasted brussels sprouts.  They are like savory candy honestly.  Tender on the inside, crispy and salty on the outside...sooo good!  I make them all the time at work with just a little olive oil and sea salt and they are amazing.  I could seriously eat a giant bowl of them and be happy.  Funny because as a kid I thought brussels sprouts were gross.  Probably because my Grandma steamed them for Thanksgiving and they were kind of mushy and stinky (they are a cruciferous vegetables after all).  I would take some just because I felt like I needed to take a little of everything but they were definitely not my favorite. It all depends on how you cook them though!  They are so delicious when roasted to crispy perfection!  So that is mainly how I make them.  Sometimes I will add them halved to a stir fry, but I don't over-cook them.

My Mom gave me a bag of them that she had picked up at Trader Joes and asked me to try making a side dish with Asian flavors that could be used for Thanksgiving with them.  Of course I was down for that, I do enjoy them after all!  So I created a simple dish that was easy to make, and I was enjoying delicious roasted brussels sprouts in about 45 minutes! I wanted them to be salty, sweet and have a little kick to them.  So I combined some home made chili oil, maple syrup, tamari, lime juice and garlic as a sort of marinade, tossed the brussels sprouts with that, and roasted them to flavorful perfection.

They turned out so good!  Sweet, spicy, salty and tender. I think these would make a perfect Thanksgiving side dish!  I shared them with my Mom and she approved as well.  I think that if people served these instead of steamed brussels sprouts a whole lot more people would learn to love them!  I will definitely be making these again soon! Speaking of Thanksgiving side dishes, what is your favorite?  Mine were always mashed potatoes and stuffing, but of course now I can add brussels sprouts to the list!

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Serves 4

• 2 Tbsp chili oil
• 3 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp tamari
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 lbs fresh organic brussels sprouts, trimmed

1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees, and oil a sheet pan.
2. Add all ingredients to a bowl, and toss the brussels sprouts until coated in the mixture.
3. Spread out on the sheet pan, place in the oven and roast until the brussels sprouts are tender, about 45 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven, and enjoy!