Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Hazelnuts and Dates

Roast your Brussels sprouts, and then add rich hazelnuts, savory garlic and sweet dates, and you’ve got an amazing flavor combo — plus a whole lot of nutrition. If there are Brussels sprouts haters at home, they’re going to convert.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup hazelnuts
• 1 1/4 pounds Brussels sprouts, halved
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 pitted Deglet Nour dates, chopped
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 F.
2. Put the hazelnuts on a rimmed sheet pan and bake until crisp and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Pour the hazelnuts into a clean dishtowel, wrap up, and let cool. Rub away the skins. Coarsely chop.
3. Increase the oven heat to 425 F.
4. On a rimmed sheet pan, toss together the Brussels sprouts, garlic, oil, salt and pepper. Spread into a single layer. Roast until the Brussels sprouts are tender and golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes.
5. Stir in the hazelnuts, dates and lemon zest and serve.

Ingredient health benefits

• Hazelnuts: Like others in the nut family, hazelnuts are as nutritious as they are delicious. They’re rich in monounsaturated fat (which helps lower “bad” cholesterol) and antioxidants and have immunity-boosting abilities to help you stay healthy throughout cold and flu season.
• Brussels sprouts: You know how they say good things come in small packages? Well, Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamin C that’s often overlooked (all you need is 1 cup to hit your recommended daily value), as well as vitamin K and vitamin B9 (folate). And they’re high in fiber, which your gut will love.
• Garlic: For all the perks this pungent allium provides, it gets very little recognition in our day-to-day lives. Eating garlic might help you manage your blood pressure and strengthen your immune system. It also has antibacterial properties that may protect you from unwanted guests hitching a ride in your food.
• Extra virgin olive oil: This cooking oil has gained quite a reputation for its many health benefits. For starters, olive oil supports your heart health by raising “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lowering the “bad” kind (LDL). It also has antioxidants that protect your cells from free radicals, helping to keep them at peak performance.
• Dates: Among their many benefits, dates are chock full of vitamins and minerals, including potassium and manganese. Their nutrients also support many body systems, like your heart, gut and brain.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 4 servings

Calories: 218
Total fat: 13 g
Saturated fat: 1.5 g
Protein: 7 g
Carbohydrate: 24 g
Dietary fiber: 8 g
Sugar: 11 g
Added sugar: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 182 mg

— Recipe developed by cookbook author Sara Quessenberry for Cleveland Clinic Wellness.