Brussels sprouts are an incredibly versatile vegetable which deserved to be enjoyed long before and after Christmas Day. That said, people still recoil in horror at the sight of them, due to mushy, over-boiled sprouts of Christmas past. Give them due care and attention, however, and they can steal the side dish show at the table. There are too many different classic sprout combinations to name, but these six recipes feature some of our favourites.

Sometimes things are best kept simple and classic and that's exactly what Dominic Chapman does in his Brussels sprouts recipe. By blanching them in water before pan-frying in butter, he allows the flavour of the sprouts truly shine through.

This sprout and horseradish gratin makes for an absolutely decadent side dish on Christmas day. The extremely creamy and slightly funky béchamel is made with a combination of Stilton and Gruyère cheese, and it's topped off with a crunchy layer of panko.

Ben Tish puts an Italian spin on a traditional Christmas combination in this recipe by finely slicing the sprouts and adding mustard seeds. By tossing them in the pancetta fat and frying them for only five minutes, the sprouts maintain their sweetness and crunch.

This recipe from Michael Bremner is all about getting lovely colour on the outside of the sprouts to give them a sweet, caramelised crunch. Finished with a generous grating of orange zest, this vibrant plate looks wonderful on the table and tastes just as good.

You might not associate Brussels sprouts with Parmesan but Luke Holder's recipe combines it with sage and lemon to create a crunchy crumb. This is then sprinkled over the top of fried sprouts to provide added texture.

Sprouts can stand up to all sorts of big flavours and this recipe sees them given a heady, scented makeover. Tossed in a saffron and pistachio butter, these are sure to turn heads and offer up an aromatic element that works really well with the rest of a Christmas dinner.

There's no reason why Brussels sprouts can't be mixed together with a selection of other seasonal greens. Here they're combined with kale, leeks and broccoli and topped with a simple walnut butter to create the ultimate Christmas side dish.