Brussels Sprout Salad

This shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with pomegranates and crisp apples is dressed with a tangy Champagne vinaigrette!

Easy and colorful shaved Brussels sprouts make a perfect light lunch or a terrific tangy side dish for dinner. We love it with our Homemade Chicken Pot Pies or our zesty Chicken Paprikash

Shaved Brussels sprouts always add a lot to any great salad because they have so much texture combined with gorgeous green color. They are hearty and grow on stalks. They get their name from their origins in Brussels.

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How to cut Brussels sprouts for salad:

Fresh Brussels Sprouts are sold loose, or in bags, and are normally already clean. However, it’s always a good idea to give them a good rinse as some sand or dirt can be hidden in the first layer of leaves or around the stem. You can buy them pre-shredded in some markets, but it is easy to shred them at home, and they taste more fresh.

Once cleaned, trim the stems of the Brussels sprouts, and also remove any of the discolored or yellowish leaves on the outside.

Shaving raw Brussels sprouts is easy and quick with a food processor using the slicing blade option. However, you can always use a mandolin, or slice them with a sharp knife.

Brussels sprouts can begin to discolor pretty quickly after trimming so use them right away, or plunge into a bowl of cool water with a squeeze of lemon, and then dry when ready to use.

I like to use my salad spinner to get them completely dry quickly. If you aren’t using them right away then store in a sealed bowl or bag in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days, until ready to use.

How to deseed a Pomegranate:

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Pomegranate seeds are also referred to as “Arils”. They are available in most produce sections in small containers, but it is super easy to deseed a fresh pomegranate in your own kitchen.

Here are the 3 steps to deseed a fresh pomegranate:

1. Trim the crown and then cut into 2 sections
2. Place the sections in a bowl of water and gently loosen the seeds with your fingers
3. Discard all the large pieces and membranes. Now strain so you are left with just the seeds

Which type of apples are best for salad?

This salad calls for an apple with some tangy tartness. There are lots of choices, but here are our suggestions:

• Honeycrisp apples provide the perfect contrast in flavor in this Shaved Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Salad because they are super crisp, have a beautiful reddish skin and a sweet taste
• Granny Smith’s – which are the most tart apple you can buy
• Pink Lady’s, Fuji, and Braeburns are all also good choices, however any crisp apple will work for this salad

Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing:

Our classic Champagne Vinaigrette is the ideal dressing for this salad because it has a slightly tart flavor that marries well with the pomegranate seeds.

This is an easy dressing, using common ingredients, and is perfect for so many types of salads. It’s flavorful without being overwhelming. It’s a great go-to dressing!

You can use any vinaigrette that you like and fresh dressing always taste best!

Ideas for add-ins for Brussels Sprout Salad:

This salad makes a great light lunch, but adding some type of protein will make it a complete meal. It’s a great way to use up any leftover proteins. Try it with our Salmon with Dill, some shredded chicken, or sauteed garlic shrimp, which are all perfect on top of this salad.

Other delicious additions could include:

• Add roughly chopped walnuts or our easy candied pecans
• Toasted pine nuts
• Crumble a little sharp cheese like feta, blue, goat or gorgonzola