Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples is a delicious fall dish featuring tart cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and a sweet and tangy lemon dressing. This raw vegan salad is quick to make and perfect for lunch or as a festive holiday starter.
Table of Contents
Fall and winter salads
I love seasonal salads.
While I tend to gravitate towards salads featuring tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers in the warmer months, salads staring fall and winter produce are equally delicious.
For example, I often enjoy a Roasted Butternut Squash Spinach Salad or Kale Quinoa Salad for lunch during the cooler months.
This Brussels Sprouts Salad may remind you of a hearty cabbage salad.
You've probably noticed that Brussels sprouts resemble miniature cabbages. I suppose this shouldn't be surprising since they are part of the same family, the Brassica, or cruciferous family.
And since I often eat cabbage raw rather than cooked, one day I decided to try raw sprouts.
I was hooked on how fresh they taste in a salad.
Plus their slight bitterness is the perfect complement to the sweet and sour flavors in this Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples.
By the way, did you know it can take trying a food eight times before you start to enjoy it?
If you know someone who doesn't care for sprouts, show them the article, Dear Dr. Universe, Will I ever like Brussel sprouts? - Sincerely, Susan.
How to shred Brussels sprouts
While it takes a little time to slice up the sprouts by hand, it's not difficult to do:
- Slice off the tough ends of the sprouts.
- Cut them in half lengthwise.
- Position the halves cut side down and slice them vertically into thin shreds.
Don't worry about being perfect.
This Brussels Sprouts Salad will be delicious no matter how the shreds look.
As an alternative, you can use a food processor instead of shredding them by hand. However, it's harder to control the texture this way.
And if you're really pressed for time, you can buy a bag of shaved Brussels sprouts at Trader Joe's and other markets.
Fall salad ingredients
In addition to the sprouts, you will need the following ingredients for this Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe:
- Apples (Pink Pearl, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Sweet Tango, or any of your favorite crisp sweet-tart apple varieties are the best choices)
- Dried cranberries (for tart flavor and juicy texture)
- Walnuts (for a slightly bitter yet buttery flavor that balances out the sweetness of the fruits and adds a crunchy texture)
- Olive oil (the best choice of oil on a Mediterranean diet)
- Pure maple syrup (a natural sweetener to mellow out the acidity of the dressing)
- Lemon juice (for brightness and acidity)
- Salt (to taste, for balancing the flavors of the salad)
Start with shredded Brussels sprouts, add chopped apples, then dried cranberries, and coarsely chopped walnuts. Pour the dressing over the salad, then toss well to coat.
How to make Brussels sprouts salad
Once your ingredients are prepped and measured, making this salad couldn't be easier:
- Place the shaved Brussels sprouts in the salad bowl.
- Add the chopped apples.
- Then add the dried cranberries.
- And the chopped walnuts.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour the mixture over the salad.
- Toss well and enjoy!
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
As with other salads based on hearty greens, such as Savoy Cabbage Salad, you won't need to worry about it becoming soggy.
In fact, some people like to let the salad rest before serving so that the sprouts become softer.
And since you can make it in advance, it makes preparing a vegan Thanksgiving dinner or other holiday meals just a little bit less stressful.
More Brussels sprouts recipes
If you're looking for even more ways to enjoy Brussels sprouts, check out some of these favorite recipes:
Brussels Sprouts Salad Recipe
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups shaved Brussels sprouts, (See Notes)
- 2 apples, cored and chopped (I used Pink Pearl, but any firm apple will work.)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Combine the shaved Brussels sprouts, apples, cranberries, and walnuts in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, maple syrup, lemon juice, and salt together with a fork.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat.
Notes
- Slice off the tough ends of the sprouts.
- Cut them in half lengthwise.
- Position the halves cut side down and slice them vertically into thin shreds.
Amy
How many pounds of brussel sprouts would you estimate to be 4 cups?
Amy
Hi Amy, it's a little less than a pound.