Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

This vegan Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is made with pan-seared brussels sprouts, almonds, dried cranberries, and a quick and easy maple vinaigrette.

Here's something I never thought I'd say:

I love brussels sprouts.

I've gone from totally despising these green little veggies, to being head over heels for them.  What changed?

First of all, I had to admit that I had a brussels sprouts problem. 

Brussels sprouts are bitter.  And bitter is not one of my favorite flavor profiles.

And so, I tackled them again-- armed with a plan.  A plan to maximize their sweet potential, and tame the bitter beast.

This easy Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is a quick and easy side dish, and can be served warm or cold!

Want more brussels sprouts ideas? Try oven-roasted brussels sprouts with apple cider vinegar, brussels sprouts and persimmon salad, honey balsamic brussels sprouts, a raw brussels sprouts salad with tahini dressing and brussels sprouts gratin.

How to Make Brussels Sprouts Sweeter

First, make sure to cook them in a way that caramelizes the sprouts.  Oven-roasting is one option, but here we're pan-searing them.

Cooking them over high-heat brings out the sugars inside the brussels sprouts, and makes them a little sweeter.

Second, dress them with both a sweet flavor and an acidic flavor.  Here, we're using maple syrup to add a touch of sweetness, and apple cider vinegar to brighten the flavors a little.

How to Shave Brussels Sprouts

My favorite way to shave brussels sprouts is with a sharp knife.  I like to use my trusty Wusthof santoku knife.

One at a time, trim of the woody ends, and then thinly slice them.

If you want, you can also peel off a few of the outer leaves and leave them whole.

Another option is to use a slicing attachment on a food processor.

Can I Skip the Almonds in This Brussels Sprouts Salad?

Yes!  If you prefer, leave the almonds out, or swap them for roasted + salted sunflower seeds or pepitas.

Can I Skip the Cranberries?

Yes!

This salad is also delicious without dried cranberries.  I like to swap in raisins, chopped dried dates, or dried cherries.

Can I Make this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes-- sort of.  I don't recommend making it a full day ahead of time.  The flavor of the sprouts becomes a little stronger, and it's not quite as delicious.

That said, you can definitely make it a few hours before serving.  Check the recipe card for the make-ahead directions.