Nautic Brussels Sprouts (F1)
A Bejo hybrid we sourced from Osborne Seeds, although there are other US vendors.
good quality, large, green sprouts
3’ stalks with well-spaced sprouts for easy harvest
Easy-to-use in the kitchen
When to Find: November - February
Chef Tim Wastell’s Tasting Notes:
“Large, almost shiny deep green sprouts with wonderfully full flavor and textural possibilities. Easy and adaptable in the kitchen”
“Nautic’s abundantly large sprouts make knife work very easy and time efficient. From trimming and halving, to providing a much less stressful than usual run through a sharp mandoline, sprouts of this size and density are a time and potential finger saver in home and professional kitchens”
“Slaw or whole leaf style salads of Nautic take best to assertive flavors (i.e. creamy dressings, mustards, bleu cheese, toasted nuts, etc.) and come together quickly”
“Nautic lends itself very well to both high/direct heat and low/slow cooking methods. Pan roasting and wood oven cookery provided caramelized sweetness that needs just a drizzle of oil, some Espelette pepper, and a squeeze of lemon”
Basket steaming with aromatics such as bay leaf and thyme resulted in tender yet toothsome sprouts that needed little more than flaky sea salt to show off Nautic’s subtle piquancy, while braising the sprouts whole in light chicken stock and finishing with roasted sesame yielded an exceptionally savory and meltingly tender accompaniment to a crisp roasted bird.”