Crisp Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Discover a vibrant and incredibly satisfying **Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad** that’s guaranteed to become a new favorite. This isn’t just any salad; it’s a symphony of fresh flavors and delightful textures, all harmoniously brought together with a healthy, tangy balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Imagine crisp shaved Brussels sprouts mingling with sweet diced apples, chewy dried apricots and cranberries, crunchy candied walnuts, and savory goat cheese. This salad truly offers an unforgettable culinary experience, making it a perfect addition to any meal or a substantial main dish on its own.

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply looking for a wholesome and delicious meal, this Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is incredibly versatile. It pairs wonderfully with a variety of main courses, adding a refreshing contrast to richer dishes. Consider serving this flavorful salad alongside a tender slow cooker pork roast, juicy grilled chicken legs, or even as a bright complement to a festive whole turkey dinner. Its robust flavors and diverse textures make it a standout side that will impress your guests and nourish your body.

A Loaded Salad for Every Palate

Are you a fan of salads that are packed with exciting ingredients and bursting with flavor? Then you’ve found your match with this Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad recipe! We believe a truly great salad should engage all your senses, offering a delightful mix of sweet, savory, tangy, and crunchy elements in every bite. This recipe artfully combines the slightly bitter, earthy notes of fresh Brussels sprouts with the sweetness of fruits, the richness of candied nuts, and the creamy tang of goat cheese, all coated in a zesty balsamic dressing. It’s a nutrient-dense powerhouse that doesn’t compromise on taste, promising a culinary adventure for your taste buds. Get ready to dive into a salad experience like no other!

Brussels sprouts, often overlooked or misunderstood, truly shine when shaved thinly. This preparation method transforms them from a hearty vegetable into delicate, crisp ribbons that absorb dressing beautifully and provide a fantastic textural base. Gone are the days of mushy or overly bitter sprouts! When combined with the array of complementary ingredients in this recipe, shaved Brussels sprouts contribute a unique freshness that is both invigorating and satisfying. This salad proves that healthy eating can be incredibly delicious and exciting, making it ideal for anyone looking to incorporate more wholesome vegetables into their diet in a delightful way.

Essential Ingredients for Your Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Crafting this incredible salad requires a selection of fresh, wholesome, and easy-to-find ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the complex flavor profile and irresistible texture that makes this dish so special. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to create this culinary masterpiece:

Veggies & Fruits: The Heart of the Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprouts: As the star of our salad, fresh Brussels sprouts are non-negotiable! For ultimate convenience, many major grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, offer pre-shredded bags of Brussels sprouts. This is a fantastic time-saver, allowing you to quickly assemble your salad without extra prep.

However, if you prefer to prepare your own, the process is straightforward. Start by trimming the tough bottoms off fresh Brussels sprouts. Then, use the slicing attachment of your food processor to coarsely chop them into thin ribbons. If you don’t have a food processor, a sharp knife works just as well. Simply thinly slice each Brussels sprout vertically from the top down to create delicate shavings. This method ensures uniform pieces that are perfect for a light, crunchy salad.

Apple: Apples add a wonderful crispness and natural sweetness to the salad. While any variety you have on hand will work, we particularly love the sweet-tart flavor of a Honeycrisp apple. Its juicy crunch provides a refreshing counterpoint to the other ingredients, adding a bright and vibrant note to the overall taste profile. Feel free to experiment with other apples like Fuji or Gala for similar delicious results.

Dried Apricots: These delightful dried fruits contribute a unique chewy texture and concentrated sweetness. In this recipe, we recommend cutting your dried apricots into quarters. This ensures that their delicious, slightly tangy sweetness is evenly distributed throughout the salad, so you get a burst of flavor in almost every bite. They pair beautifully with the balsamic dressing and the other fruity elements.

Dried Cranberries: Adding another layer of sweet-tart flavor and vibrant color, dried cranberries are a classic salad ingredient. Their chewiness complements the crunch of the sprouts and nuts. If cranberries aren’t your preference, feel free to substitute them with golden raisins or dried cherries for a similar effect and an equally delicious outcome.

Nuts & Seeds: For Irresistible Crunch and Richness

Sunflower Seeds: These small but mighty seeds provide a pleasant, earthy crunch and a dose of healthy fats. We highly recommend using already shelled sunflower seeds to save time and effort. Their mild flavor blends seamlessly with the other ingredients, enhancing the salad’s textural complexity without overpowering it.

Candied Walnuts: Elevating the salad to gourmet status, homemade candied walnuts are surprisingly easy to make and add an incredible sweet-savory crunch. We love the warm, caramelized flavor they bring. To prepare these perfectly candied walnuts, simply toss 1 cup of raw walnuts with a tablespoon of maple syrup and a generous pinch of sea salt. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F (200°C) for just 10 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even caramelization. This baking time is often just enough to prepare the rest of your salad ingredients, making it an efficient step in your meal prep. Let them cool completely before adding them to the salad to maintain their delightful crunch.

Dressing & Finishing Cheese: The Unifying Elements

Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing: A good dressing ties all the flavors together, and our homemade balsamic vinaigrette is simply superb. Its balanced tang and subtle sweetness perfectly complement the rich ingredients of this salad. We have a fantastic recipe for it on Fit Foodie Finds, but if you’re short on time or prefer a quick option, any high-quality store-bought balsamic vinaigrette will also work beautifully.

Crumbled Goat Cheese: The creamy, tangy notes of crumbled goat cheese add a sophisticated finish to this salad. Its distinct flavor pulls all the diverse ingredients together, creating a wonderfully cohesive dish. The soft texture of the cheese provides a welcome contrast to the crunchy components. If you’re avoiding dairy, or simply not a fan of goat cheese, feel free to omit it. The salad will still be incredibly delicious, or you could opt for a dairy-free feta alternative for a similar tangy kick.

Serving Size and Meal Prep Potential

This vibrant Brussels sprouts salad is quite versatile when it comes to serving. As a generous side dish, it will comfortably serve 6 people, making it perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or holiday gatherings. The medley of flavors and textures ensures everyone will find something to love. If you’re planning to enjoy this delicious creation as a main course – perhaps for a light lunch or a satisfying dinner – it will serve 2-3 individuals, providing a wholesome and filling meal. This adaptability makes it a fantastic recipe to keep in your culinary repertoire. Enjoy, friends!

Maximizing Freshness: How to Store Brussels Sprouts Salad

One of the best aspects of this Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is how well it stores, making it an excellent candidate for meal prepping. To keep your salad fresh and crisp, transfer any leftovers into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will maintain its quality and delicious flavor for up to 2-3 days. The sturdy nature of the shaved Brussels sprouts means they won’t get soggy as quickly as other greens, especially if the dressing is added right before serving or kept separate until ready to eat. This makes it ideal for packing into lunchboxes or having a healthy, ready-to-eat side throughout your busy week.

Expand Your Palette: More Delicious Brussels Sprouts Recipes

If this Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad has captured your heart and proved that Brussels sprouts can be truly delicious, then get ready to explore a whole new world of culinary possibilities! Brussels sprouts are incredibly versatile, adapting well to a variety of cooking methods, from fresh and crisp to perfectly roasted or grilled. We’ve gathered some of our favorite Brussels sprout recipes to help you get your fix, no matter what you’re craving. Dive into these fantastic creations and discover your next favorite way to enjoy this nutritious vegetable:

• Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts
• Roasted Brussel Sprout Salad with Quinoa
• Balsamic Brussel Sprouts on the Grill
• Roasted Brussel Sprout Polenta Bowls
• Parmesan Garlic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• How to Roast Brussels Sprouts

From savory bacon-wrapped delights to wholesome quinoa salads and simple roasted perfection, these recipes demonstrate the incredible range of Brussels sprouts. Each dish offers a unique way to enjoy their distinctive flavor and health benefits, ensuring there’s a recipe for every occasion and preference. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a recent convert, these options will inspire you to incorporate more of this fantastic vegetable into your cooking.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars from 2 votes

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

This Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is fresh, flavorful and tossed with a healthy balsamic vinaigrette dressing. From diced apples to dried apricots to candied walnuts, and, of course, shaved brussels sprouts, this salad truly has it all!

By: Emily Richter

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

Candied Walnuts

• 1 cup raw walnuts
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• pinch of sea salt

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

• 1/2 lb. shaved Brussels sprouts
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, minced
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 medium apple, chopped
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 3 tablespoons minced chives
• 3 tablespoon homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing
• 2 ounces crumbled goat cheese

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200°C).
• Spread walnuts over a baking sheet and drizzle with maple syrup and sea salt. Stir well to ensure all walnuts are evenly coated in maple syrup.
• Bake for 10 minutes, stirring the walnuts halfway through cooking. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet to achieve maximum crunch.
• While the candied walnuts are baking, place the shaved Brussels sprouts into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Gently massage the sprouts with your hands for 2-3 minutes. This helps to tenderize them and allows them to better absorb the flavors.
• Next, add the cooled candied walnuts, dried apricots, dried cranberries, chopped apple, sunflower seeds, and minced chives to the bowl with the Brussels sprouts. Pour in the homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until every component is well coated with the dressing.
• For the best flavor and texture, store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Enjoy your fresh and flavorful Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad!

Nutrition

Calories: 296 kcal, Carbohydrates: 29 g, Protein: 8 g, Fat: 18 g, Fiber: 6 g, Sugar: 20 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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