NEW: Cook With Me Every Week

First edition of Stirring the Pot newsletter is here!

December 16, 2024

December 16, 2024

Welcome to Stirring the Pot!

I’m so thrilled to cook with you each week! This free newsletter is your weekly go-to for culinary and entertaining inspiration—delivered fresh from my kitchen straight to your inbox.

Whether I’m cooking at home for my family or developing dishes for a new restaurant or project, this is my way to share what I discover along the way with all of you. Expect bold, flavor-first recipes, pro-level techniques, and useful tips that will transform the way you cook and enjoy food.

To kick things off, I am sharing a simple yet spectacular dish that is always a hit when I put it on any restaurant menu – fried Brussels sprouts with a creamy, tangy dressing and crisp apples to garnish. This holiday-ready side dish is as impressive as it is easy. This is hands down the best way to enjoy Brussels sprouts if you ask me.

I would serve this as a first course or with pork, chicken, or a beautiful piece of fish. It also looks stunning when served family-style on your favorite platter and brings a bright pop of color to your holiday table.

Cut the Brussels sprouts and make the sauce the day before to streamline your prep. I always wait to cut the apples until right before serving so that they don’t brown. You can also store them in some acidulated water, but cutting them fresh is still the best option.

I hope you enjoy my favorite holiday side dish! If you make it this year, tag me on Instagram @geoffreyzakarian, I’d love to see your version. Read below for the full recipe and more pro tips to ensure success.

Fried Brussels Sprouts with Creamy Mustard and Cider Dressing

INGREDIENTS

Serves 4 to 6

  • 2/3 cup creme fraiche

  • 1/3 cup whole-grain mustard

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

  • 1 ½ - 2 ½ cups avocado oil, depending on pan size

  • 4 cups sliced Brussels sprouts (quartered)

  • 1 Granny Smith apple, julienned

  • Minced chives, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the creme fraiche, mustard, vinegar and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

  2. In a Dutch oven or straight-sided shallow sauté pan, heat the avocado oil over medium-high heat until it reaches between 350-375ºF on a candy thermometer. Add the Brussels sprouts; they should begin to sizzle and fry immediately. Continue to cook, rotating the Brussels sprouts on all sides, until crispy, about 5 minutes.

  3. Drain the Brussels sprouts and toss in enough vinaigrette to dress them. Garnish with apples and chives. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Pro Tips

  • When trimming Brussels sprouts, take off only a thin amount of the stem end so that more of the leaves stay intact. The leaves get extra crispy when they fry, so you don’t want to lose them.  

  • Don’t overfill your pan with oil. No more than halfway. If there’s water at all in what you’re frying, it will bubble over. 

  • When frying anything, don’t overcrowd the pan. If you add all of the Brussels sprouts at once, the temperature of the oil falls rapidly and you won’t get a crispy end result. 

  • Use an infrared thermometer. Keeping your oil at the proper frying temperature is essential for frying success. A thermometer takes the guesswork out. 

  • Salt the Brussels sprouts the moment they come out of the fryer; if they cool too much, the salt will just bounce off. 

  • Prepare a landing spot for your Brussels sprouts, like a rack or towel-lined sheet pan, before you begin to fry.

Equipment Used

  • Dutch oven

  • Chef’s knife

  • Spider

  • Infrared thermometer

  • Sheet pan

  • Cake rack

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Test Drive

Ronamok Maple Syrup

I don’t bake often, but my wife Margaret does, and she often bakes using unrefined sugar like maple syrup. The flavor of this syrup is deep and robust and really shines when paired with spices and fall/winter leaning dishes like apple crumble, pumpkin pie or carrot cranberry muffins. It also takes pancakes to another level – so, if you’re looking for a foodie gift or for something special to put on the table for your holiday brunch, this is it!

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