Asian Brussel Sprouts – Crispy Air Fryer Version

Inspired by takoyaki, these Asian brussel sprouts are crisped in the air fryer and loaded with spicy sriracha, sweet maple syrup, and more.

This is the recipe that will finally make you love brussel sprouts.  

I know, those are strong words.  But hear me out.

First you’ll smother brussel sprouts in a spicy and sweet sriracha maple syrup sauce.  Then you’ll char them in the air fryer until they’re super crispy.  

And after that, you’ll top them off with a mix of Japanese condiments similar to the ones used for takoyaki.  Think tangy Kewpie mayo, umami-packed furikake and bonito flakes, and biting scallions.

Yep, there’s a lot going on.  But it all works together so well that it’s one of the best ways to eat brussel sprouts that I’ve ever tried.

An explosion of flavors

Every now and then, there’s a recipe that I get really excited about.  And this is one of those recipes.

Each ingredient in this recipe has its purpose and they all come together to provide an amazing balance of flavors.  You’ll find sweetness, spiciness, smokiness, tanginess, creaminess, savoriness, umami, and oniony flavors all in one bite.

These brussel sprouts are so flavorful, and so indulgent, that they’d even make a good party food.  When’s the last time you saw brussel sprouts at a party?

Are these brussel sprouts really Asian?

This is not a traditionally Asian or Japanese recipe at all, though it uses some Japanese ingredients.

The condiments used to top these brussel sprouts are loosely inspired by takoyaki, the wheat-battered octopus balls from Japan.  And because they’re round, the brussel sprouts also look similar to the Japanese street food classic.

Even though this recipe is not traditional, it tastes amazing.  I’ve made it a bunch of times and it’s definitely one of those recipes that I keep going back to.

Ingredients

Brussel sprouts.  The miniature cabbages get the star treatment by being doused in sauce, charred in the air fryer, and topped with an explosion of flavors.

Sriracha.  Spicy sriracha is used in both the sauce and as a topping for the final cooked brussel sprouts.

Maple syrup.  While not an Asian ingredient, sweet maple syrup works so well in this recipe to balance out the spicy sriracha.

Kewpie mayo.  Drizzling a lot of Kewpie mayo on top is a must for this recipe.  The mayo helps tame the spiciness of the sriracha and adds a creamy richness to the final dish.

Furikake.  Furikake is typically a mixture of sesame seeds, seaweed, herbs, fish flakes, and salt.  It adds deeper flavors of saltiness and umami to the brussels sprouts.  It’s become popular in the United States and can be found in the Asian section of many grocery stores.  Trader Joe’s also has it.

Bonito flakes.  The smoked, fermented fish shavings add even more umami to the brussel sprouts.  These flakes are used to top many Japanese dishes like takoyaki (wheat-battered octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes with cabbage), and agedashi tofu (fried tofu with a simple dashi-soy-mirin sauce).  

Scallion.  Thinly sliced scallions aren’t just for looks.  They help to round out the final dish with a fresh, oniony bite.

What kind of bonito flakes do I need?

There are many types of bonito flakes and so it could be confusing to choose the right one.  The flakes vary in their color, their thickness, and their overall size.  

This recipe uses thin, pale pink bonito flakes.  Other flakes that are thicker or more brown in color are typically better used for making dashi or for braising.  

This guide on bonito flakes is helpful to better understand all the different types and their uses.

How to make Asian brussel sprouts

1. Make the sauce.  Mix sriracha, maple syrup, canola oil and a pinch of kosher salt in a small bowl.
2. Roast the brussel sprouts.  Place the brussel sprouts in a large bowl and add the sauce.  Toss the brussel sprouts well to evenly distribute all of the sauce.  Roast the brussel sprouts in an air fryer at 390° for a total of 14 minutes.  Shake the brussel sprouts halfway through the air frying process, at the seven minute mark, to move them around and ensure even crisping.
3. Add toppings and serve.  Top the brussel sprouts with more sriracha, Kewpie mayo, furikake, bonito flakes, and scallions.  Serve them right away.

Air fryer tips

1. Don’t be afraid to char the brussel sprouts.  Cooking the brussel sprouts for the full 14 minutes will result in some charring.  This ensures that they’re super crispy and also gives a nice smoky flavor to the dish.
2. Don’t forget to shake the brussel sprouts while cooking.  You should shake the brussel sprouts halfway through the cooking process so that different parts of the vegetables get exposed to heat and are able to crisp up.

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

This recipe can easily be made in your oven if you don’t have an air fryer.

Just add the sriracha maple sauce to your brussel sprouts and roast them on a sheet pan in a 400° oven for 20 to 25 minutes.  

Stir the brussel sprouts twice during the roasting process to ensure that different parts of the sprouts come into contact with the sheet pan and become crispy.

What to serve with Asian brussel sprouts

These sprouts are spicy and packed with flavor. They pair well with other rich, flavorful foods.

Main course:  Set these sprouts down next to spicy, cheesy Korean dishes such as Rose Tteokbokki or Army Stew, and you’ll have a super indulgent and satisfying meal.

More Vegetables:  Moochae, the Korean radish salad, pairs perfectly with these brussel sprouts.  The refreshing, spicy radishes stand up against the flavorful sprouts.

Soju:  This meal screams out for some sweet peach soju to cut through all of the spiciness and heaviness.