Honey Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts
All of the Thanksgiving dinners we attend (three in total, the first happening back in October) are large, with the total mouths-to-feed count hovering around 25. As such, no one person is ever left with the sole responsibility of making a meal to feed the crowd. Instead, we communally share the job, signing up for dishes and drinks, each bringing the classics or surprising everyone with a bit of a twist and a deviation from the norm.
There will always be plenty of green bean casserole, and the hosting party provides a giant roast bird, possibly even a ham depending on the side of the family. Warmed bread is served slathered in soft butter, and a bright array of side salads and vegetables run down the center of the table. Potatoes are mashed and aunts and cousins argue over whether they should be laced with garlic or kept plain jane for their gravy river.
Photos by Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family
What matters in the end, though, is that there are family and friends gathered together, feeding each other. So this year, I’m bringing Brussels sprouts. In some circles, these green-hued orbs get a bad rap (some family circles especially), but with the right amount of coaxing and just a few tricks up my sleeve, I will erase all the memories of soggy and sad and replace them with a longing to eat them nightly.
In our home, Brussels sprouts are a quick and easy side to any family dinner. Cooking up without the need for blanching or fancy parlor tricks, they come together quickly and are served promptly. Adding a bit of pomegranate-laced honey, which can be made up in advance and saved in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, gives this dish extra flare without a lot of work. Pomegranate honey also works well as a toast topping or on the other side of your peanut butter sandwich. It finds its way into my afternoon tea quite often as well.
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 3 cups Brussels sprouts washed and halved
- 4 Tablespoons pomegranate honey see notes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans chopped
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Over medium-high heat, melt the butter in a large sauté pan. Add in the Brussels sprouts and cook just until they turn a vibrant green, about 3-5 minutes, stirring only occasionally to allow edges to brown. Add in the pomegranate honey and the salt. Stir to coat the sprouts, and then pour in the pecans.
- Remove from heat and stir in the pomegranate arils. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
In the vein of giving thanks, this post is part of a communal table hosted by the Food Network. So, Pull Up a Chair and see what everyone is bringing to the table.
Cocktails, Appetizers, Salads and Breads:
- Haute Apple Pie: Apple Jack
- Cooking With Books: Spiced Couscous and Walnut Salad
- Mooshu Jenne: Honey Bacon Potato Pops
- Food For My Family: Roasted Beet and Lacinato Kale Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
- Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Super Seeded Cornbread
Main:
Sides:
- Feed Me Phoebe: Cornbread and Wild Rice Stuffing With Hazelnuts and Cranberries
- Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chorizo, Cornbread and Tortilla Dressing
- Sweet Life: Apple Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing
- And Love It, Too: Paleo Green Bean Casserole
- Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Sweet Spiced Winter Squash Casserole
- Red or Green?: Corn, Peppers and Onion Saute
- Simple Bites: Honey Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Virtually Homemade: Fresh Orange and Cranberry Sauce With Toasted Walnuts
- What’s Gaby Cooking: Mixed Potato Gratin (pictured above)
- The Heritage Cook: Cauliflower Gratin
- Creative Culinary: Creamy Mushroom Bake With Parmesan and Panko
- Bacon and Souffle: Spicy Carnival Squash
Desserts:
- I Am Baker: Pumpkin Bars in a Jar
- Add a Pinch: Caramel Pie
- Chez Us: Pumpkin Cheesecake With Chocolate Swirls
What are you bringing to the table either for Thanksgiving dinner or another holiday get-together?
GOR-G-EOUS.
I don’t think I’ve ever had brussels sprouts! But this recipe is very very tempting and I think I need to add it to the Thanksgiving menu. Pomegranates! mmm. This year we are mixing up the holiday menu – trying a lot of new dishes and only keeping a few old favorites in the mix. It’s going to be fun!
Never? This dish would hook you for good. Roasted sprouts are the very best. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
This sounds like a lovely Thanksgiving accompaniment. Not to mention, there’s never been a brussels sprouts I would turn down. The pomegranate honey sounds intriguing.
Absolutely stunning. We both actually love sprouts when they’re cooked well, but we hardly ever make them at home. I should change that.
Really?? I thought they were on the ‘do not eat’ list. Then again, J is British…
Beautiful! What an unusual way to enjoy brussels sprouts. Unlike most people, I actually really love them. Hoping this recipe convinces the rest of my family to feel the same way 🙂
I just love how the pomegranate seeds make this dish pop! So pretty.
Those brussels sprouts are gorgeous! I love the pomegranates.
I am bringing roasted garlic stuffing, rolls (savory pumpkin , regular white and whole wheat), a cherry raspberry cobbler and coconut cream pie bars to a Thanksgiving vacation with friends on the beach. 22 people: 14 kids. Can’t wait!!
I love your recipe of Honey Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts, simple and easy to prepare. Thanksgiving is always a food laden event and a vegetable dish is a good choice to add to those savory meat dishes. When you prepare pomegranate honey, usually how long is its shelf life?
Wow, pomegranate honey sounds amazing! I want some for my morning toast!
Whenever my family gets together I bring the bread and the dessert
Such pretty sprouts, linking back to this recipe today 🙂
For some reason I’m not finding the pomegranate honey recipe on the Food for My Family blog, but it sure sounds good. So often orange juice is the fruit choice in a glaze, and I cannot eat oranges, so I like the pomegranate alternative. I also like the dark green and bright red combination in the dish, it’s perfect for Christmas.
Hi, Mary. The pomegranate honey is located within the recipe card for the pomegranate olive oil cupcakes on my site, near the bottom. Otherwise, the directions can also be found in the notes above. Thanks so much!
I have added pomegranate seeds to sautéed kale but never with Brussels Sprouts – love this idea!! Have you used pomegranate molasses? Wondering if that would work. Either way – love this and will be trying it out!
Way to convert the haters – I feel like Brussels sprouts are having a comeback lately, which is just fine with me!
You can mash my potatoes and honey-glaze my sprouts if you know what I mean.
Love this gorgeous side! Though I am a little late this year, I’m pinning it for next year’s Thanksgiving festivities. 🙂
This looks so good! I love brussel sprouts roasted just plain with olive oil and salt, but I haven’t come up with a really special recipe for them, this looks perfect! And the red and green of the brussel sprouts and pomegranates together is quite beautiful. Instead of making the pomegranate reduction, another option might be to use pomegranate molasses.
I’ve committed to eating more different kinds of veggies and Brussels sprouts were at the farmers market so I brought home a “stick” of them. 😉 Years ago I was served BS at an Easter dinner. They were so terrible I wanted to spit them out! Our hostess said they were her favorite food. What a hot bitter mess! Your recipe completely changed my thoughts on Brussels sprouts! Though they are a tad bit bitter… this recipe made them absolutely addictive! It was that perfect ratio of lightly sweet to slightly bitter and with the nuts sooo good! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find pomegranates in the stores yet… I’m sure that will make them even better! A few years ago I read that if you heat honey not only does it destroy its good qualities, but it’s detrimental to our health… so I used maple syrup and reduced that as well in the juice. A little thin, but the favor was amazing! Thank you so much for a treat and a new veggie that will be on our menu and so EASY to prepare as well!