It's a shame it's so intimately linked to the smell, since simply not overcooking avoids the problem.

NPR: Turning a New Leaf on a Misunderstood Sprout

And they hardly needed to chew such tiny pieces, which in most cases were already softened by pounding, overcooking, or long, gentle braisings.

NEWYORKER: A Fork of One��s Own

The first recipe, inspired by chef Nobu Matsuhitsa, uses only the outer leaves of the sprout, ensuring full flavor without the risk of under- or overcooking.

NPR: Turning a New Leaf on a Misunderstood Sprout

But in a nod to ingenious evolutionary survival, overcooking also releases an unpleasant-smelling sulphur compound from the sprout's core, an olfactory offense that is the reason many people thumb their noses at this vegetable.

NPR: Turning a New Leaf on a Misunderstood Sprout

He wound up overcooking the idea.

NEWYORKER: Inception