Monday, February 1, 2016 Brussels Sprout Poppers
Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner and this means you're about to be eating all the Super Bowl snacks your little heart could desire.
It's a day to sit around, watch TV, crack open a beer, and forget about those New Year's resolutions--while enjoying all the cheesy, fried, Buffalo-flavored things you can imagine.
Jalapeno poppers have long been a staple on the list of favorite Super Bowl foods.
I've made classic Jalapeno poppers many times and they're considered a classic for a reason, but after I discovered how easy it is to hollow out a Brussels sprout, I knew I had to try to make it into a popper.
Luckily the Brussels sprouts held together like champs, cooked up beautifully, and before my eyes the Brussels sprout popper was born!
And just to make things interesting I've stuffed them with pimento cheese.
There is nothing not to love here! It's a Brussles sprout stuffed with pimento cheese, then breaded and fried.
Even if you have no interest in the game, you are going to have one heck of a Sunday.
Brussels Sprouts Poppers
Makes 24-30 poppers
4 ounces cheddar cheese
4 ounces cream cheese
2 ounces pimento peppers
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon, plus a pinch of kosher salt
Pinch of ground black pepper
1 pound Brussels sprouts (about 24-30 sprouts)
1 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten, with 2 tablespoons water added
1 teaspoon cracked pepper
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying
1. Make the pimento cheese by combining the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, pimento peppers, cayenne, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of ground black pepper in a food processor and process these ingredients until they are well combined. You can also do this by hand if desired. Then set the pimento cheese aside in the refrigerator while you prepare the Brussels sprouts.
2. Bring water to a boil in a medium pot, salting it once it is boiling. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise and drop them into the boiling water (you may have to work in batches); cook them until they are slightly soft and pliable—about 2 minutes. Then set them aside to cool. Once the Brussels sprouts are cool to the touch, use a melon baller to remove the inside of each sprout and discard (or reserve for a later use). You can also use a paring knife to cut part of the stem towards the base of the Brussels sprout; the center of the sprout should then pop out. Place the Brussels sprout shells on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Fill each scooped-out sprout with ¼ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon of the pimento cheese. Pair the shell halves together and freeze them for 20 minutes.
4. Prepare the breading station by mixing, in a small bowl, the flour, ⅓ teaspoon of the salt, and ⅓ teaspoon of the cracked pepper. Next, put the egg mixture into a small bowl, again adding ⅓ teaspoon of the salt and ⅓ teaspoon of the cracked pepper. Finally, in another small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs and the Italian breadcrumbs together, and add the remaining ⅓ teaspoon of salt and ⅓ teaspoon of cracked pepper.
5. One at a time, dip the poppers into the flour mixture, turning them to dust all sides. Tap off any excess flour, then dip the poppers into the egg mixture, turning them to coat all sides and allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, dip each popper into the breadcrumb mixture, making sure the crumbs coat all sides of the popper. Lay the coated poppers on a clean, dry surface.
6. Heat a fryer or a large pot filled with vegetable oil to 375ºF. Cooking in batches, fry each popper in the oil until golden brown—about 2 minutes.
Note: If you prefer to bake the poppers rather than frying, begin by following Steps 1 through 5 above. Then put all of the poppers on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place it in an oven preheated to 400ºF. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping the poppers over halfway through their cooking time.
You might also like these recipes:
Parmesan Zucchini Crisps
Ramen with Pork, Egg + Snow Peas 
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread
Shepherd's Pie Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Reader Comments (1)
Wow! crispy !!! I like your dish and i was followed your every step Then I will try at home.