Brussels sprouts are a vegetable everyone loves to hate. It’s the liver of the vegetable world. But I have to tell you, they are such a healthful food, they really deserve a shot on your dining table. And I have THE best recipe for making them that everyone will like. (See box.)

Before we get into that, let’s take a closer look at the nutritional bang Brussels sprouts give for the buck. Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable, like broccoli, cabbage, kholrabi  and cauliflower–a powerhouse vegetable, that if cooked properly (read: NOT boiled) provides a powerful anti-cancer chemical called sulforaphane. In addition, Brussels sprouts also have cholesterol lowering benefits, provide a good source of fiber  and Vitamins A, C and E, which are a common combination in vitamin pills. And as we all know, better to eat our vitamins than swallow them. Additionally, they are rich in folate, potassium, vitamin K, and beta carotene. Superfood.

Why do people hate them? Ahh, the answer is in the preparation. Like liver, it’s meat counterpart, brussel sprouts are often relegated to one style of cooking. In the case of liver, it’s frying. With brussel sprouts, it’s boiling water–possibly the worst way to eat them if you want to preserve their nutrients and cancer-fighting potential. I also think they lose their taste as well. Brussel sprouts tend to be bitter, so chefs often recommend counteracting that with sweet or even savory ingredients. Or both, which my recipe does.

Before you start working with Brussels sprouts, I have to defer to my ex-husband, the former chef and mentor who gave me the confidence to cook. He taught me–after removing the yellow and damaged outer leaves and trimming off the bottoms–to score the bottoms with an X. This helps tenderize the stem and inner leaves, which can sometimes be tough even after cooking. Then place them in a water bath mixed with several tablespoons of vinegar and let soak for 10 minutes. Apparently, vinegar can help kill bacteria and germs. Rinse well and then proceed with your recipe prep.

I made these pan-roasted Brussels sprouts last Thanksgiving (see box) and even those who proclaim visceral hatred for the vegetable enjoyed them. Branch out and try some of these recipes as well: Brussels Sprouts in Cheese Sauce, Maple Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts (vegan, vegetarian), Brussels Sprouts Romaine Wraps (gluten free, dairy free), Brussels Sprouts Salad with Orange Vinaigrette (raw vegan).