Brussels Spouts – do you love them or hate them?

They’re the divisive festive vegetable that often split opinion at the dinner table more than Brexit or football. But there’s good reason why your mum insisted on making you endure a forkful of Brussels sprouts on Christmas Day.

These little vegetables, known as cruciferous, might look mediocre, but they’re quietly one of the most nutritious side dishes going, thanks to their high antioxidant content, rich cocktail of vitamins and surprising versatility.

Loved and loathed in equal measure, sprouts have a nutty, earthy taste and are a member of the Brassicaceae family of vegetables; their close relations include the cabbage, broccoli and kale. They gained their name after becoming a staple of the Belgian diet in the 16th Century, although they’re thought to have originally found their way to the UK from Afghanistan.

Sprouts often get a bad rep for being soggy and slightly pungent, making them fated to be scraped into the bin. But the key to getting the best out of their unusual flavour is often in cooking them correctly.

With more of us turning to plant-based diets, the humble sprout is experiencing something of a rejuvenation, with chefs stirring them into raw salads or sauteing them with honey and balsamic vinegar to make exciting flavour combinations.

So how do you feel about sprouts? Do you eat them on a regular basis or just at Christmas? Do you love or loathe them?