Last year around this time I got a catalog in the mail from Johnny’s Seeds, one of my favorite seed companies. One of the new items they were raving about was their flowering sprouts, a hybrid of kale and Brussels sprouts. They grow on a stalk like Brussel sprouts, however instead of forming tight little mini cabbage, the plant forms sprouts that are open and look like mini kale. I thought this would be really cool to try, but wasn’t ready to fork over the $10.95 it costs for just a single packet of seeds.
Fast forward one year to one recent day at work when I came in and saw a package of flowering sprouts, that we were calling lollipop kale. I couldn’t wait to try them. I have become a fan of Brussels sprouts in the last year. I love their flavor and tenderness. I have only messed around with kale a little bit (first attempt didn’t turn out so well). There are multiple colors of kale sprouts, these ones happen to be the red kale version (more purple if you ask me!).
Buying Kale Sprouts Seeds
The cost of the seeds has gone down as now you can buy a packet of 25 seeds
for $4.99. I don’t think this is such a bad deal for something that is so new, hard to find, and is so tasty.
Where to Buy Kale Sprouts
Availibility is limited at this point. Below is a list of places that has had them in. Call the individual store for availability. This list will grow as I discover more locations.
The Produce Station (Ann Arbor, MI)
Straub’s (4 stores in St. Louis, MO)
How to Cook Kale Sprouts
For my first time using them I wanted to go with something simple. Just a simple sautee in butter with garlic and a little hit of maple syrup for a bit of sweetness. These sprouts were amazing with that texture of a Brussels sprouts but with a mild kale flavor. Absolute yum! Tempts me to grow them myself next year.
Sauteed Kale Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound kale sprouts
- 3 tablespoons butter or bacon fat!
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- maple syrup to taste optional
Instructions
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Start by melting butter over medium heat in a large non-stick frying pan.
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Add the sprouts and garlic once the butter is melted.
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Cook for 3-5 minutes until the sprouts have softened to your liking.
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Add salt and black pepper to taste.
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Remove from the heat and add a splash of maple syrup to taste.
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