Fried Brussels Sprouts With Shallots, Honey, and Balsamic Vinegar Recipe

Halved Brussels sprouts and sliced shallots being deep-fried in a wok. A metal spider is holding some of the vegetables above the wok.

Serious Eats/J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Why It Works

  • Deep frying Brussels sprouts is a sure-fire cooking technique that brings out the best flavor with a crispy outside.
  • Not overcrowding the fryer and maintaining oil temperature ensures crisp and tender Brussels sprouts, not greasy or undercooked.

Before you continue reading, may I kindly suggest you do the following in order to save yourself some time in the future: Drop what you are doing right now, and shoot an email to all of your Thanksgiving guests informing them of the menu change you are about to make. This year, you will be frying your Brussels sprouts.

I apologize for the imperative tone of the first paragraph of this post—normally I'd strongly suggest or heartily endorse a recipe. In this case, however, the results are incredible enough that not only do I think you should try it, I insist that you do. I take full responsibility if you aren't completely blown away by how tasty the results are.

Adding Brussels sprouts and shallots to a wok to deep fry.

Serious Eats/J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

The first time I tried deep fried Brussels sprouts was in Austin, Texas. First in the form of a salad sopped with aromatics and a fried steam bun at Paul Qui's East Side King, shortly followed by the awesomely addictive and well-loved fried Brussels sprouts with lemon chili at Uchi.

A metal spider scooping out Brussels sprouts and shallots from hot oil.

Serious Eats/J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

When you fry them, Brussels sprouts become everything you love about Brussels sprouts with none of their downsides: the nutty aroma, the mildly sweet flavor, the just-tender-but-still-crisp interior. Couple that with the crisply frizzled edges and tiny pockets perfect for coating in a sweet-tart sauce, and you've got the perfect recipe for a Thanksgiving flavor-bomb.

A metal spider scooping out golden-brown fried Brussels sprouts and shallots.

Serious Eats/J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

The key to perfectly fried Brussels sprouts is to use enough oil, and to work in batches. The goal is to get the exteriors to brown and frizzle just as the interiors barely finish cooking. If you try and add too many sprouts at once or you don't use enough oil, the temperature will drop and your sprouts will end up overcooking by the time they crisp properly, leaving you with soft, greasy centers. Here's some additional information on how to deep fry at home without a deep fryer.

But honestly, it's a pretty foolproof technique, especially compared to other stove-top methods like searing or pan-roasting, which require a careful eye and constant attention to ensure that they're cooking at the right rate. With deep fried sprouts, all you gotta do is heat your oil, dump your sprouts in, and wait.

Already fried Brussels sprouts and shallots draining on a paper towel in a silver bowl.

Serious Eats/J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

A few minutes later, they emerge. Crisp, golden brown, and glistening. Want to get extra fancy? Throw a few sliced shallots in there with' em. They frizzle up in about the same time, becoming as sweet and aromatic as the best onion ring. You can eat everything as-is with just some salt and pepper, but I like tossing them in the following honey and balsamic vinegar.

The best part is that deep-frying conforms perfectly to my philosophy of using as many different cooking methods as possible on Thanksgiving day (or any other big meal) in order to make sure that food isn't fighting for oven or pan space. The sprouts fry up easily in the time it takes the turkey to rest.

Recipe Details

Fried Brussels Sprouts With Shallots, Honey, and Balsamic Vinegar Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons honey

  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

  • 2 quarts vegetable, canola, or peanut oil

  • 3 pounds Brussels sprouts, stems trimmed, outer leaves removed, split in half

  • 3 medium shallots, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Combine honey, balsamic vinegar, and parsley in a small bowl and set aside.

  2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a triple layer of paper towels. In a 14-inch wok or 6-quart Dutch oven, heat oil to 400°F. Add half of Brussels sprouts and half of shallots. Oil temperature will drop to around 325°F. Adjust heat to maintain this temperature. Cook, stirring and agitating with a metal spider (a small metal strainer that has a long handle) until Brussels sprouts are deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined baking sheet. Reheat oil to 400°F and repeat with remaining sprouts and shallots.

    Fried Brussels Sprouts With Shallots, Honey, and Balsamic Vinegar

    Serious Eats/J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

  3. Transfer sprouts and shallots to a large bowl and add dressing. Toss to combine, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

Special Equipment

deep fryer, 6-quart Dutch oven, or 14-inch wok, spider

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
210 Calories
15g Fat
18g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 210
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 126mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 88mg 439%
Calcium 58mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 502mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)