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, our zesty Chicken Paprikash, or Baked Salmon
Jump to RecipeShaved Brussels sprouts always add a lot of flavor to a great salad because they have so much texture combined with a gorgeous green color. They are hearty vegetables that grow on stalks. They get their name from their origins in Brussels.
Ingredients needed:
Just 3 ingredients plus dressing are needed for this yummy salad.
- Brussels Sprouts – Fresh are required for shaving. Look for firm unblemished sprouts.
- Pomegranate Seeds – You can buy a whole pomegranate and remove the seeds. See below for how to do it – or buy a cup of seeds (we use 1/2 cup for this recipe)
- Apple – Honeycrisps were our choice, but pick your favorite apple. See below for some additional suggestions
- Champagne Vinaigrette – We use our homemade version but any variety will work, or try it with this zesty lemon vinaigrette
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 fresher.
- Once cleaned, trim the stems of the Brussels sprouts, and 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 just slice them with a sharp knife.
- PRO TIPS:
- 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.
- Use a salad spinner to quickly get them completely dry. If you aren’t using them right away then store them in a sealed bowl or bag in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days, until ready to use.
How to de-seed a Pomegranate:
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 de-seed a fresh pomegranate:
- Trim the crown and then cut it into 2 sections
- Place the sections in a bowl of water and gently loosen the seeds with your fingers
- 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 for this Shaved Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Salad because they are super crisp, have beautiful reddish skin, and a lightly 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 tastes 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, 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
Shaved Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Salad
Equipment
- Food Processor, optional
Ingredients
- 16 oz fresh Brussels sprouts, shaved
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 large apple, thinly sliced Honeycrisp or other crisp variety
- 6-8 oz Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing, Link to recipe in Notes below
Instructions
- Clean Brussels sprouts and trim ends. Remove any discolored leaves.
- Shave Brussels sprouts in a food processor, with a mandolin, or slice thinly with a sharp knife. If not using immediately, plunge in cold water and dry thoroughly before using.
- In a large bowl, gently toss shaved Brussels sprouts, pomegranate seeds, and sliced apples with the Champagne vinaigrette.
- Serve immediately.