These Are, Hands-Down, the Best Brussels Sprouts I’ve Ever Had

I’ve never lived in a neighborhood as vibrant as Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn. It’s the first place I’ve lived that feels like a true community. I see and speak with many of my neighbors every day, and several of my favorite places to eat are right at my doorstep. It feels more like home than anywhere else.

Saraghina, an Italian restaurant and bakery, is at the top of my list of neighborhood restaurants I love. When my friend Talia and I make plans to meet up for our weeknight catch-up sessions, we always feign interest in trying other restaurants. But deep down we know we’ll always end up at Saraghina, enjoying a few drinks, a delicious meal, and even better conversation.

Nine times out of 10, I order the Brussels sprouts. They are perfection — and I don’t say that often! For me to enjoy Brussels sprouts, they have to be extremely crispy, and Saraghina has the crispiness factor on lock. They’re perfectly charred on the outside without being overcooked on the inside, and that’s not even the best part. What really puts them over the top is the sweet-tart maple-sherry agrodolce they’re tossed in — and the salty Parmesan cheese and marcona almonds that are sprinkled on top before serving.

That being said, a weekly $13 Brussels sprouts order isn’t exactly sustainable, so I was very happy to discover that they’ve shared their recipe online! As someone who loves recreating restaurant foods at home, this was a huge win for me — especially when I saw how easy it is to whip up. You let a mixture of maple syrup, sherry vinegar, and chili flakes reduce on the stovetop, roast the Brussels sprouts at 400°F, toss them in the maple-sherry agrodolce, then sprinkle some Parmesan and almonds on top. Now, it’s not only one of my favorite things to order out, but it’s also one of my favorite things to make myself at home.

At Kitchn, our editors develop and debut brand-new recipes on the site every single week. But at home, we also have our own tried-and-true dishes that we make over and over again — because quite simply? We love them. Kitchn Love Letters is a series that shares our favorite, over-and-over recipes.