Brussels Sprout Salad
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Shaved Brussels sprout salad is enjoyed year round, but especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tossed with crisp apples, cranberries, candied walnuts and crumbled goat cheese, it’s drizzled with a tangy, herby vinaigrette. Prep this easy holiday salad in 15 minutes.
📌 Pin Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
🧑🏼🍳 Why We Love This Easy Holiday Salad
- It’s a quick, hassle-free recipe that comes together in just 15 minutes.
- On the holiday table, it’s both a salad and a veggie side dish. It’s a different way to serve and enjoy healthy Brussels sprouts.
- It has delicious flavors and textures that taste amazing together. From shaved Brussels sprouts to the bright tangy flavor of the lemon vinaigrette, this holiday salad is a winner.
- The ideal salad for picky eaters. Even those who aren’t fond of veggies love this tasty, Brussels sprout salad.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Lemon Vinaigrette
- Shallot: Adds a delicate onion flavor that’s slightly peppery with a hint of garlic. To remove some of the bite, we let it sit in lemon juice before prepping the dressing.
- Garlic Clove: Adds a rustic, earthy flavor that pairs well with lemon and Brussels sprouts.
- Lemon: Adds acidity and freshness to the vinaigrette. It brightens the flavor. But if you don’t have it on hand, use apple cider vinegar instead.
- Dijon Mustard: Helps emulsify the vinaigrette dressing. For a stronger, more robust mustard flavor, use grainy mustard instead.
- Fresh Thyme: Has an herby flavor with a sweet peppery taste.
- Olive Oil: Adds rich moisture and substance to the vinaigrette. For the best flavor, select a good-quality olive oil. My favorite brand is California Olive Ranch.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
- Freshly-Ground Black Pepper: Adds a rustic taste with a hint of heat.
For the Salad
- Brussels Sprouts: The star ingredient and base of our Brussels sprout salad. At the market, you can buy them in a package already shaved, or you can shave them at home with the grating tab of your food processor, a mandoline or a knife.
- Granny Smith Apple: The crispness and tartness of this fruit add dimension to the recipe.
- Dried Cranberries: Add a seasonal taste to the Brussels sprout salad. They’re sweet with a chewy texture. And they pair well with walnuts, apples and goat cheese. But feel free to use dried cherries instead.
- Walnuts: Use candied walnuts or roasted salted walnuts. They add crunch and texture. But you can also use pine nuts, pecans or almonds instead.
- Goat Cheese Crumbles: This delicious cheese has an earthy flavor with a soft velvety texture. At the market, look for crumbled goat cheese in small containers in the specialty cheese section.
📖 Recipe Steps
- Combine shallot, garlic and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set it aside for 5 minutes. Then add the dijon and thyme, and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly. Continue whisking until the dressing is fully emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set it aside until serving time, or refrigerate for later.
- Add shaved Brussels sprouts to a salad bowl. Top with chopped apples, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, and goat cheese crumbles. Toss to combine.
- When ready to serve, drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to distribute the dressing throughout. If desired, add an extra drizzle of olive oil over the top.
- Serve immediately. This salad is best enjoyed right after it’s assembled. If it sits out too long, the apples will brown and the goat cheese will develop a funky texture.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the BEST shaved Brussels sprout salad, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
The easiest methods for shaving Brussels sprouts is with a food processor or mandoline. But you can also do it with a knife. Cut off the root ends and discard them. Pull off any outer leaves that are loose, wilted or rotten, and discard them. One by one, hold the veggie firmly with the root end facing down on the cutting board and start shredding it.
Cut the log in half, then put it in the freezer for 15 minutes. We do this to dry it out a bit, and get it cold – so it’s firmer and easier to work with. Use a fork or your hands to crumble it. You can easily save about 50% on the cost of goat cheese crumbles by just crumbling the goat cheese from a log, instead of buying a container of goat cheese crumbles.
It’s not recommended to assemble it in advance. The flesh of the apples will brown, and the cheese will develop a funky texture. However, you can shave the Brussels sprouts in advance and refrigerate them in an airtight container. The lemon vinaigrette can also be prepped in advance and refrigerated up to 2 days. Assemble the salad just before serving.
🥗 More Delicious Salads
For holiday gatherings and year-round enjoyment, these salads will effortlessly take you from season to season. Save your favorites for later. Add them to your meal plan rotation.
- Healthy Caesar Salad
- Lemon Orzo Salad
- Southern Coleslaw
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers said this is the BEST shaved Brussels sprout salad. They enjoyed the all the crisp textures and flavors of this holiday salad, along with the tangy vinaigrette dressing. They went back for seconds, then asked for the easy recipe.
If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Brussels Sprout Salad
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Description
This shaved Brussels sprout salad features crisp apples, cranberries, candied walnuts and crumbled goat cheese. It’s drizzled with a tangy, herby vinaigrette. Prep this easy holiday salad in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Vinaigrette
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1 large clove garlic, grated
- 1 large lemon, juiced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh minced thyme
- 1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
For the Salad
- 4 cups shaved Brussels sprouts
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cubed into bite-size pieces
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup candied walnuts (or roasted salted walnuts)
- 4 ounces goat cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Combine shallot, garlic and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set it aside for 5 minutes. Add the dijon and thyme, and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly. Continue whisking until the dressing is fully emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set it aside until serving time, or refrigerate for later.
- Add shaved Brussels sprouts to a salad bowl. Top with chopped apples, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, and goat cheese crumbles. Toss to combine.
- When ready to serve, drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to distribute the dressing throughout. If desired, add an extra drizzle of olive oil over the top.
- Serve immediately. This salad is best enjoyed right after it’s assembled. If it sits out too long, the apples will brown and the goat cheese will develop a funky texture.
Notes
How to shave Brussels sprouts: The easiest methods for shaving Brussels sprouts is with a food processor or mandoline. But you can also do it with a knife. Cut off the root ends and discard them. Pull off any outer leaves that are loose, wilted or rotten, and discard them. One by one, hold the veggie firmly with the root end facing down on the cutting board and start shredding it.
Can this salad be made in advance? It’s not recommended to assemble it in advance. The flesh of the apples will brown, and the cheese will develop a funky texture. However, you can shave the Brussels sprouts in advance and refrigerate them in an airtight container. The lemon vinaigrette can also be prepped in advance and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Assemble the salad just before serving, whisking the dressing before using.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Rest Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad 👉🏻 Join the Convo
Are you excited to make this delicious holiday salad? Will you be serving it for a family gathering, or enjoying it for a weekday lunch or dinner? Share your thoughts on this easy recipe in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
