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    Home » Recipes » Salad recipes

    Warm brussels sprout salad with apples and pecans

    Published: Sep 23, 2021 · Modified: Apr 18, 2022 by Trish Bozeman · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Warm Brussels sprout salad recipe! A flavorful vegetarian shaved Brussels sprout salad with crisp apples, pecans, creamy blue cheese, and an apple cider vinaigrette.

    Shaved brussels sprout salad with two serving spoons

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    Hi, Rhubarbarians! We are giving all the fall feels today with a crunchy and warm brussels sprout salad recipe.

    Sauteed brussels sprouts, toasted pecans, tart cranberries, crunchy apples, creamy blue cheese, and a zingy apple cider vinaigrette.

    It's a cozy, vegetarian salad that is the perfect side dish for a fall meal or Thanksgiving dinner!

    Getting fully into cozy fall mode? Try this baked apples and pears recipe! Like pie, but so much easier.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients and equipment
    • Step by step instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Making ahead and storing
    • Recipe tips and substitutions
    • FAQs
    • Recipe
    • Comments and reviews

    Why you'll love this recipe

    This shaved brussels sprout salad has all of your favorite fall flavors in a warm, cozy salad! The shaved brussels sprouts are sautéed until they are wilted and browned, but still crunchy. The warm brussels sprouts marry very well with the flavors of the pecans, cranberries, apples, and blue cheese. Then it all gets tossed in a simple apple cider vinaigrette. Amazing!

    Have you checked out our collection of fresh and healthy vegetarian fall recipes yet?

    Warm brussels sprout salad being scooped with a spoon

    Ingredients and equipment

    Full ingredients and instructions are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.

    Ingredients:

    • Pecans: raw chopped whole pecans or pecan pieces
    • Olive oil
    • Onion: we like red onion for this recipe
    • Brussels sprouts: make things easy and buy a bag of pre-shaved brussels sprouts! (See tips in this post for shaving brussels sprouts if you only have whole or check out this article)
    • Salt and pepper
    • Dried cranberries: sweetened or unsweetened, your choice
    • Apple: we like crunchy honeycrisp or fuji apples
    • Blue cheese: crumbled
    • Apple cider: go for an unfiltered apple cider that you love
    • Apple cider vinegar: go for raw, unfiltered apple cider. We love Bragg unfiltered apple cider vinegar
    • Maple syrup: pure maple syrup. Nothing flavored or sweetened
    • Ground ginger
    • Garlic: pressed or mashed

    Equipment:

    • Stove top or cook top
    • Non-stick skillet. We love our GreenPan skillet!
    • Measuring cups
    • Stirring utensil like a wooden spoon or spoonula
    • Small plate or bowl
    • Measuring spoons
    • Cutting board
    • Sharp chef's knife
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Small bowl or jar
    • Garlic press
    • Small whisk or spoon. We love these tiny whisks for salad dressing!
    • Large spoons or salad servers

    If you can't find a bag of pre-shaved brussels sprouts, you can shave your own! You can either use a food processor, or shave them yourself with a knife. First, chop off all of the root ends of the sprouts. Then, remove all of the browned leaves. Then, slice the brussels sprouts width-wise with a sharp knife. Rub gently with your fingers to separate them a bit. That's it!

    Brussels sprout and apple salad ingredients

    Step by step instructions

    Full instructions are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.

    • Prep all of your ingredients. Get your ingredients out and chopped before cooking, as this recipe cooks quickly.
    • Toast the pecans in a a non-stick skillet. Be careful with these as they can burn easily.
    • Toasted pecans in a skillet
    • Browning onions in a skillet
    • Saute the onion in some olive oil until fragrant and starting to brown.
    • Add you brussels sprouts along with some salt and pepper.
    • Saute it all together until the brussels sprouts are almost browned.
    • Warm brussels sprouts in a skillet
    • Cooking a brussels sprout salad in a pan
    • Add the cranberries to the pan and saute until the brussels sprouts are browned but still crunchy.
    • Make your dressing while all of that is cooking and set aside.
    Apple cider vinaigrette being stirred with a spoon
    • Add the brussels sprouts to a mixing bowl and add your other salad ingredients.
    • Pour the dressing over and toss to combine.
    • Brussels sprout and apple salad in a glass bowl
    • Pouring dressing over a fall salad
    • Season to your taste with salt and pepper.
    • Serve warm and enjoy!
    Warm brussels sprout salad in a glass bowl

    Serving suggestions

    Our favorite way to serve this brussels sprout apple salad is warm as a side dish with a fall dinner.

    Try serving this as a side dish with mushrooms on toast, vegan cranberry pot roast, or pumpkin fettuccine alfredo.

    We have made this as a vegetarian side dish for a holiday dinner as well and the flavors make it the perfect Thanksgiving brussels sprouts dish!

    To make it a full meal: add some protein of your choice like brown or green lentils, crispy chickpeas, or even some crispy tofu. Try adding some greens as well like spinach or arugula.

    Serve it cold: we love this salad cozy and warm, but it's great cold too! The brussels sprouts stay crunchy even after being dressed, which makes a great cold salad.

    Making ahead and storing

    • Making ahead: to make this ahead for a potluck or maybe a Thanksgiving dinner, we recommend slightly undercooking the brussels sprout mixture and reheating in a pan right before serving, if possible. Don't toss the mixture with the salad ingredients or dressing until ready to serve. If you need to prepare the entire thing the night before and serve it cold, that's okay! We recommend dressing it right before serving.
    • Storing: store any leftovers in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to one day. It will get a bit soggy the longer it sits, so we recommend eating as soon as possible.

    Recipe tips and substitutions

    • We like to use store bought pre-shaved brussels sprouts. You can shave your own (see the ingredients and equipment section in this article to see how), but allow for more prep time.
    • Don't overcook the brussels sprouts or they will become mushy. Cook them until they are browned but still a bit crunchy. Undercooked brussels sprouts are better than overcooked!
    • Don't skip toasting the pecans! It adds such a nice flavor to the salad.
    • If you don't like blue cheese, you can substitute with feta cheese or goat cheese.
    • Make this recipe vegan by omitting the cheese or using plant based feta cheese.
    • If you can't find pecans, you can substitute with walnuts or almonds.
    • If you can't find dried cranberries, you can substitute with dried cherries.

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    Thanksgiving salad with apple slices

    FAQs

    How do I make this vegan?

  • Make this recipe vegan by omitting the cheese or using plant based feta cheese.
  • How do I make this gluten free?

    This salad is gluten free!

    How do I shave brussels sprouts?

    You can either use a food processor, or shave them yourself with a knife. First, chop off all of the root ends of the sprouts. Then, remove all of the browned leaves. Then, slice the brussels sprouts width-wise with a sharp knife. Rub gently with your fingers to separate them a bit. Check out this article about how to shave brussels sprouts for more detailed info.

    Can I use a store bought dressing?

    Sure! The flavor won't be the same, however. Choose a dressing that you love that will pair well with these flavors.

    Can I serve this cold?

    Yep! We love this salad cozy and warm, but it's great cold too! The brussels sprouts stay crunchy even after being dressed, which makes a great cold salad.

    More fall side dishes you'll love:

    • Warm halloumi salad with apples and pecans
    • Maple roasted butternut squash with cranberries
    • Pear and apple spinach salad

    Did you make this recipe? Leave us a review and star rating in the comments below! We read every single review and appreciate your feedback.

    Recipe

    Brussels sprout salad with two serving spoons

    Warm brussels sprout salad with apples and pecans

    Trish Bozeman
    Warm Brussels sprout salad recipe! A flavorful vegetarian shaved brussels sprout salad with crisp apples, pecans, and creamy blue cheese.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 side dish servings
    Calories 475 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the salad

    • 1 cup chopped raw pecans
    • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
    • ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
    • 4 cups shaved brussels sprouts (we like to buy pre-shaved)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • 1 cup finely diced apple
    • ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
    • additional salt and pepper (if needed)

    For the dressing

    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • ¾ Tablespoon maple syrup
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon pressed or mashed fresh garlic

    Instructions
     

    Make the brussels sprout mixture

    • Heat the pecans in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Toast, watching closely and stirring often, until the pecans are toasted but not burned. You should be able to smell toasted pecan aroma when they are toasted and they should be slightly browned. About 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
    • Reduce the heat the medium and add 3 Tablespoons of olive oil to the non-stick skillet. Add the onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the brussels sprouts to the pan along with the salt and pepper. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the brussels sprouts are wilted and almost browned, but still have some crunch to them, about 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and continue to saute, stirring occasionally, until the brussels sprouts are browned but still crunchy, another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to a large mixing bowl.

    Make the apple cider vinaigrette

    • While the brussels sprout mixture is cooking, make your dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, the apple cider, the apple cider vinegar, the maple syrup, the ginger, and the garlic. Whisk until emulsified and set aside.

    Make the salad

    • Add the toasted pecans, apple, and blue cheese to the brussels sprout mixture. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Season to your liking with salt and pepper.
    • Serve warm. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • We like to use store bought pre-shaved brussels sprouts. You can shave your own (see the ingredients and equipment section in this article to see how), but allow for more prep time.
    • Don't overcook the brussels sprouts or they will become mushy. Cook them until they are browned but still a bit crunchy. Undercooked brussels sprouts are better than overcooked!
    • Don't skip toasting the pecans! It adds such a nice flavor to the salad.
    • If you don't like blue cheese, you can substitute with feta cheese or goat cheese.
    • Make this recipe vegan by omitting the cheese or using plant based feta cheese.
    • If you can't find pecans, you can substitute with walnuts or almonds.
    • If you can't find dried cranberries, you can substitute with dried cherries.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 475kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 7gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 724mgPotassium: 542mgFiber: 8gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 760IUVitamin C: 77mgCalcium: 111mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword holiday, shaved brussels sprout salad, thanksgiving, vegetarian
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kim

      November 11, 2015 at 2:26 pm

      How do you slice something in a food processor?

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        November 12, 2015 at 8:23 am

        Hi Kim! If you have a large Cuisinart, there are different grinding attachments you can buy. Some slice, some puree. So many options!

        Reply
    2. Thalia @ butter and brioche

      December 05, 2014 at 1:52 pm

      This brussels sprouts salad looks incredibly delicious! Loving that dressing especially - a recipe I must make!

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        December 07, 2014 at 1:29 pm

        Thanks Thalia!

        Reply
    3. Allyson

      December 04, 2014 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! Love Brussels sprouts! This is a perfect winter salad!

      Reply
    4. Angi

      December 04, 2014 at 10:19 am

      This looks delicious, and I LOVE brussels sprouts. I tried to make a brussels sprouts salad similar to this once, and it was okay, not great. This looks way better - even with the pee photo (which made me LOL, by the way).

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        December 04, 2014 at 11:47 am

        This was actually my second attempt at this recipe! The first one was pretty bland so I upped the ginger and blue cheese and it turned out really great. And PEE! I knew I wasn't crazy, it totally looks like pee.

        Reply

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