Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Walnuts

With crisp tart apples, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts, this Brussels sprouts salad is a great holiday salad, easy to make and healthy, too.

Sitting down for a holiday dinner is one of my favorite things to do. Surrounded by amazing food and people you love, what could be better?

I love it even more when I can share food, recipes, or money with people who are beset by illness, economic hardship, or just plain loneliness. We always try to invite at least a few people outside of our family circle to share the bounty that God gives us.

I often make this salad for get-togethers. It’s popular with everyone. If you’re skeptical of the raw Brussels, don’t be! This salad is like coleslaw’s sophisticated big sis. Shaved Brussels sprouts, chewy dried cranberries, nutty toasted walnuts, and rich Pecorino cheese make it completely irresistible. 

Give it a try, I’m pretty sure you’ll love it!

Looking for ideas to fill in some gaps on your holiday table? Make sure you check out my round-up of over 85 Thanksgiving recipes!

If you’re feeling extra blessed this year, consider giving back. We typically do so through our church but there are other great organizations that can help you share a little love this season.

Holidays can be a time of great stress for some families. Perhaps someone just lost their job, or is suffering an illness, or maybe some unexpected expenses came up. Sometimes it’s hard to be joyful when your life is filled with trying circumstances and there’s just not enough money to buy groceries.

Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger relief charity.  They have a mission to feed America’s hungry through a network of food banks and to get people involved in the fight to end hunger. You can easily donate on their website but there are a lot of other ways to give as well. Take a minute to consider it!

About this Salad 

And even better, it likes a little time to meditate. Oh, sorry, I guess that’s me, not the salad. Really, make this salad in the morning and it’s perfectly happy in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it. It actually gets better because the Brussels sprouts soften a bit and absorb the dressing. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or other holiday meals.

I’ll get you started here with lots of extra tips and information. As always, you’ll find the printable recipe at the end of the post. It has complete directions and nutrition information.

What You’ll Need

• Brussels Sprouts: These cute little cabbages are really good shredded. Wondering what “shaved” Brussels sprouts are? It’s all the same thing: shredded, sliced thinly, or shaved. Look for compact heads that are dark green and firm.
• Apple: Granny Smith apples are great for this salad, or any other crisp tart apple.
• Green Onion (Scallion): Sliced into the salad, green onions provide a subtle onion flavor. Red onions or shallots are a good substitute.
• Dried Cranberries: The chewy cranberries provide a good contrast to the other elements of the salad.
• Walnuts: Make sure you toast them lightly before adding them to the salad. Toasting really brings out the flavor of the walnuts. If you’re not a fan of walnuts, toasted pine nuts are a great substitute.
• Pecorino Romano Cheese: This dry flavorful cheese adds a salty tang to the salad. Coarsely grate it, break it into small chunks, or shave thin curls onto the salad.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: The dressing is simple with just a few ingredients. Apple cider vinegar goes well with the apples but if you prefer, use white wine vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, or rice vinegar.
• Olive Oil: Choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
• Maple Syrup: This sweetener balances the tang of the vinegar. Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Other sweeteners such as honey or agave may be substituted.
• Salt and Pepper: Coarsely ground salt and pepper are so good in salads. Don’t omit them because they season the salad perfectly.

How To Make This Recipe

First off, the Brussels sprouts have to be sliced. Keep reading — there’s lots of information in the FAQs if you’re not sure about how to do this. The sliced (shaved, shredded) Brussels sprouts will keep in a resealable plastic bag in the fridge for up to three days.

Next, mix up the maple vinaigrette dressing. With just five ingredients (counting the salt and pepper!), it’s really easy to make. Use a whisk to get the dressing mixed.

Put the Brussels sprouts in a large mixing bowl. Add the cranberries and sliced green onions.

Cut the apple into matchstick-sized pieces.

Put them into a small bowl, add a couple teaspoons of the dressing, and stir well. The dressing will keep the apple from turning brown. Add the apples to the big bowl, along with the remaining dressing, and give it all a good stir. Make sure all the ingredients are coated with the dressing.

Cover and put into the fridge for at least forty-five minutes. The dressing will soften the Brussels sprouts and cranberries a bit, and the flavors will meld together.

Just before serving, give the salad one more stir and add the toasted walnuts and cheese. It’s up to you whether you want to leave them on top or stir them in.

Enjoy!

FAQs

Make It Your Own

• Try breaking the Pecorino into small chunks instead of shredding it. I love the salty bite you get when you get a little chunk of cheese. Or try a different cheese like feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, or Gouda. For a vegan salad, use a dairy-free cheese or omit it.
• If you want, substitute dried cherries or golden raisins for dried cranberries.
• If you’re not a walnut fan, try toasted pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, or whatever you like. Toasted sunflower seeds, pepitas, or crispy roasted chickpeas are great nut-free options, too.
• Add cooked, crumbled bacon to the salad. Total yumminess!
• If you really don’t like Brussels sprouts, substitute shredded cabbage or a bag of coleslaw mix.

Make-Ahead Ideas

One way to get a head start on this salad is to prep the Brussels sprouts. Once you have those shredded, the salad is a breeze to make. Put them in a recloseable bag or covered bowl and store in the fridge for up to three days.

The walnuts can be toasted ahead of time, cooled completely, and stored for up to a week. Make the dressing ahead of time, too, and store in the fridge. Make sure you shake or stir it well before adding it to the salad.

Storage Tips

The salad can be prepared more than an hour ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Add the cheese and walnuts right before serving.

Leftover salad can be refrigerated up to four days in a tightly covered container. Stir well before serving.

Leftover Love

Turn leftover salad into a main course. Add leftover cooked turkey or shredded chicken to the salad and stir it in. If you want, add cooked quinoa or farro. If necessary, make a little more dressing to completely moisten the salad. Serve it with a warm roll or a slice of leftover pie!

More Ways to Eat Brussels Sprouts

There are so many ways to eat these tasty green spheres. They are good for you too, with lots of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Try:

• Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin
• Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
• Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
• Vegan Quinoa Salad with Brussels Sprouts & Pepitas
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Grapes & Parmesan
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Maple and Cayenne
• Air fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Walnuts
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Asiago