Flower sprouts - something new

The Flower Sprout

 We tried something new last week - they were in the "New" section when I was completing my weekly Ocado delivery, a Waitrose product.


I was expecting them to be some sort of flower bud as the picture wasn't clear, but found them intriguing so popped them in my basket.

They almost looked a bit hop-like.

So when they did arrive, the penny dropped slowly. They appeared to be a derivative of the humble brussel sprout.

They start at the bottom looking like a traditional sprout, but instead of a tight ball of green, they flourish into a miniature green and purple cabbage-like flowery head.

I decided to steam ours, they took just short of 10 minutes to get to our preferred texture, the recommendation is 5-6 minutes.

There was no resistance from any of the family on finding them on their plates, there was a bit of quiet contemplation once eating started and then....well they were a resounding success. They were like tiny cabbages, with a really lovely soft texture and a heart with a bit of bite, sweet with that green, irony bitter overtone you gte from leafy greens. Delicious covered in gravy, but I would imagine very versatile, good mixed in with pasta, chopped in half as a topping for a veggie soup.

What was most surprising, was that when I was doing a little bit of research I discovered the Flower Sprout has it's own web page.

On it they say the Flower Sprout is the result of 15 years of research into finding a more subtle brussel. It's a combination of kale and brussel. They say it's rich in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C.

What I like is that it steamed well and kept it's pretty form, but it's quite sturdy so I think it will hold well added for the last 15-20 minutes of cooking in a stew. The website says they stir fry well, making a good alternative to the chinese green leaves like bok or pak choi.

Give it a go. On googling them I can only see them available at Waitrose, but keep your eyes peeled in your local supermarket, I can see them catching on.

If you are an allotment holder or keen gardener you can get some seeds and grow your own here.

Leave a comment and tell me if you have tried them and how you cooked them.