As the countdown to Christmas intensifies, a culinary expert has issued a timely piece of advice for home cooks: start preparing your Brussels sprouts now. Award-winning chef Jade Greenhalgh has shared a simple recipe that she promises will convert even the most ardent sprout sceptics at the festive table.
The 'Upside-Down' Method Explained
In a popular TikTok tutorial, Jade Greenhalgh introduced her 'upside-down sprouts' technique, declaring it so effective that you will "never boil one again". The core of the method involves creating a flavoured butter, which is spread across the base of a baking tray. The sprouts, peeled and halved, are then placed cut-side down onto the buttery layer.
"All you need to do is make a flavoured butter and then you're going to spread that all over your baking tray," Jade explained. The tray is then covered with foil and baked, allowing the sprouts to steam in the infused butter, resulting in a tender interior and a deliciously crispy base.
Preparation and Cooking Instructions
For busy hosts, one of the key benefits is the ability to prep this dish ahead of time. The assembled tray can be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook, streamlining Christmas Day logistics. Jade recommends baking at 190C (Gas Mark 5) for 25 to 35 minutes, until the sprouts are perfectly fork-tender.
To elevate the dish further, the chef suggests adding crispy bacon bits or roasted chestnuts. For the bacon, she advises baking it on a separate tray for 20-25 minutes until crisp, then draining the fat to create a savoury "bacon crumb" to sprinkle over the finished sprouts.
Reaction and Alternative Ideas
The recipe has been met with enthusiasm online, with one follower commenting, "I am definitely going to give this a try. Thanks so much for sharing." Another viewer said, "These look lush, will be trying them this way this year... love sprouts!"
Other TikTok users shared their own festive sprout strategies, including one method involving frying with bacon, garlic, white wine, and stock until the mixture becomes "sweet and sticky". Jade's own recipe for four to six people calls for softened butter, garlic, thyme, salt, and streaky bacon, with optional additions like lemon zest, honey, or miso paste for the flavoured butter.
With Christmas dinner debates inevitable, this award-winning chef's 'incredibly easy' hack offers a promising solution to ensure the humble Brussels sprout becomes the star of the show, rather than the subject of contention.
