Chespin Brussels Sprouts

By Nate Buck, arr. Andrew Brandon

Chespin Brussels Sprouts

For those not up to date on the latest video game trends, Chespin is the name of a chestnut-themed Pokémon. I owe this recipe to my friend Nate Buck, enthusiast of video games and gastronomy. Nate created this recipe using his knowledge of Pokémon along with The Flavor Bible. It was such a big hit at his Pokémon-themed dinner party that I decided to add it to my repertoire as well. I’ve adjusted the recipe slightly, which is how it’s presented here.

  • serves a large group (~12 people) as a side dish
  • 20 minutes
  • 60-80 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ lbs brussels sprouts, halved or quartered
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large apples, diced
  • ⅓ cup butter (approx. 5 Tbsp)
  • 1 Tbsp fennel seeds
  • 3 oz chestnuts (approx. 20), shelled, peeled, and diced (packaged pre-roasted chestnuts are fine). Pecans can be used if chestnuts are unavailable
  • ¼ cup heavy cream

Directions

  1. Combine the brussels sprouts, salt, and oil in a 9×13 pan. Roast at 375 °F until fragrant (approx. 45 minutes), stirring partway through.
  2. Meanwhile, sauté the apples in the butter until soft. Then, add the fennel seeds and chestnuts and sauté for a few minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream.
  3. Add the apple mixture into the brussels sprouts and combine. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the brussels sprouts are soft.
  4. When it’s done it should look like this: Chespin Pokémon

This is but one of the many fantastic recipes available on this blog!