Have you ever experienced the magic of a shaved Brussels sprout salad? If not, you’re in for a treat! Shaving these often-misunderstood vegetables transforms them, making them remarkably tender and crisp, reminiscent of a delicate cabbage slaw. This unique texture serves as the perfect canvas for pairing with other autumnal ingredients like crisp apples and the luxurious creaminess of goat cheese, creating a salad that is both refreshing and substantial.

This particular Brussels Sprout Apple Goat Cheese Salad is destined to be a star on your Thanksgiving table this year, and for many seasons to come. It’s a symphony of textures and flavors – from crunchy to creamy, sweet to tangy – ensuring every bite is an interesting culinary journey. While the beauty of salads lies in their adaptability, our carefully curated combination includes perfectly shaved Brussels sprouts, finely chopped sweet apples, toasted walnuts, luscious dried cranberries, a touch of thinly sliced red onion, and generous crumbles of soft goat cheese. Each ingredient plays a vital role in creating a balanced and utterly delicious experience.

A light homemade balsamic dressing beautifully coats the salad, enhancing its natural flavors without overpowering them. However, feel free to use your favorite store-bought dressing if time is of the essence. Salads like this one are not just for special occasions; they make fantastic additions to your weekly meal plan, offering a fresh, healthy, and satisfying option. If you’re a fan of Brussels sprout salads, be sure to explore other delightful options such as a refreshing Brussels Sprout Slaw or a classic Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.

Why You’ll Love This Brussels Sprout Apple Goat Cheese Salad

This salad isn’t just a side dish; it’s a celebration of seasonal flavors and textures. Here’s why it deserves a permanent spot in your recipe collection:

• A Symphony of Textures: From the tender, shaved Brussels sprouts and crisp apples to the chewy cranberries and crunchy walnuts, every forkful offers an exciting textural contrast.
• Harmonious Flavors: The slight bitterness of Brussels sprouts is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of apples and cranberries, while the tangy goat cheese and zesty balsamic dressing tie all the components together beautifully.
• Nutrient-Packed: Brussels sprouts are a powerhouse of vitamins K and C, while apples offer fiber, and walnuts provide healthy fats. This salad is as nutritious as it is delicious.
• Effortlessly Elegant: Despite its gourmet appeal, this salad is surprisingly simple to assemble, making it ideal for both busy weeknights and impressive holiday gatherings.
• Versatile & Adaptable: Easily customize ingredients to suit your preferences or what you have on hand. It’s a forgiving recipe that encourages creativity.
• Seasonal Delight: Featuring fall and winter produce, it’s the perfect dish to bring warmth and freshness to cooler weather meals.

Essential Recipe Ingredients

You’ll adore this simple and satisfying recipe, which relies on fresh, wholesome ingredients. It’s truly one of my favorite go-to salads!

• Brussels Sprouts: The star of the show! For this recipe, you’ll want them thinly shaved. You can either purchase whole Brussels sprouts and shred them yourself using a food processor with a slicing attachment or a mandoline, or you can opt for the convenient pre-shaved bags often found in the produce section of grocery stores like Trader Joe’s. Freshness is key for the best texture.
• Apples: Any of your favorite crisp, sweet apples will work wonderfully here. Varieties like Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady are excellent choices, offering a delightful crunch and natural sweetness that complements the other flavors. To prevent browning, a quick toss in a little lemon juice is always a good idea.
• Nuts: Walnuts are featured in this recipe, providing a rich, earthy crunch. However, feel free to substitute with other nuts like pistachios, slivered almonds, or pecans for a different flavor profile. Lightly toasting them before adding can enhance their flavor and crunch even further.
• Dried Cranberries: These jewel-toned dried fruits add a lovely burst of sweet-tart flavor and a chewy texture, beautifully offsetting the savory elements of the salad. If cranberries aren’t your preference, dried apricots, chopped dates, or golden raisins make excellent alternatives.
• Cheese: Creamy goat cheese is my top pick for this salad, as its tangy, soft texture melts into the greens and fruit. For a different twist, crumbled feta cheese offers a saltier, more pungent flavor.
• Red Onion: A small amount of thinly sliced red onion provides a mild, sharp bite that cuts through the richness of the other ingredients. If you find raw red onion too strong, you can soak the slices in ice water for 10-15 minutes to mellow their flavor, or even use quick pickled red onions for an extra tangy kick.
• Dressing: Our light, fall-inspired dressing is a vibrant mix of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Greek yogurt (for creaminess), honey (for sweetness), apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. This combination creates a balanced vinaigrette that enhances rather than masks the salad’s fresh ingredients.

Exciting Recipe Variations to Explore

This salad is wonderfully versatile, allowing you to easily adjust it to your taste, dietary needs, or what you have available. Get creative with these delicious variations:

• Cheese Swaps: While goat cheese offers a unique creaminess and tang, consider crumbled feta cheese for a saltier, more robust flavor. Blue cheese crumbles would also add a bold, pungent note for cheese lovers.
• Add More Vegetables: Boost the nutritional value and texture by incorporating extra veggies. Shredded carrots, thinly sliced radishes, or even roasted butternut squash cubes would be fantastic additions. For an elevated twist, try quick pickled red onions to add a bright, zesty crunch.
• Introduce Leafy Greens: While shaved Brussels sprouts are the base, you can easily mix in other leafy greens. Hearty kale, peppery arugula, or tender spinach would blend seamlessly, adding more volume and different nutritional benefits.
• Flavorful Spices for Dressing: Elevate your balsamic dressing by experimenting with spices. A pinch of sumac can add a wonderful citrusy tang, or a dash of za’atar (a Middle Eastern blend) can infuse it with aromatic herbs and sesame. Even a touch of smoked paprika or garlic powder can add depth.
• Alternative Nuts: Instead of walnuts, try toasted pecans for a buttery sweetness, slivered almonds for a delicate crunch, or pine nuts for a rich, soft texture. Toasted nuts always bring out a deeper flavor.
• Boost with Protein: To transform this side salad into a complete meal, add cooked protein. Grilled chicken, roasted turkey, pan-seared salmon, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian option would be delicious and filling.
• Different Dried Fruits: Beyond cranberries, consider dried cherries, chopped dried figs, or even thinly sliced dried apricots for varying sweetness and texture.

How to Make This Brussels Sprout Apple Salad

Crafting this vibrant salad is incredibly straightforward, requiring just a few simple steps to bring all the delicious components together.

Step 1: Combine the Salad Ingredients

In a generously sized salad bowl, gently combine the shaved Brussels sprouts, chopped apples, walnuts, dried cranberries, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled goat cheese. Once all components are in the bowl, drizzle the juice from half a lemon over the mixture. This not only adds a bright, zesty flavor but also helps prevent the apples from browning. Gently toss the ingredients together to ensure an even distribution.

Step 2: Prepare the Balsamic Dressing

In a mason jar with a lid, or a dedicated salad dressing container, combine all the dressing ingredients: balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Alternatively, you can whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl until well blended.

Step 3: Dress and Serve

Just before serving, pour the freshly prepared balsamic dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Using salad tongs, gently toss the salad until all the components are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve immediately to enjoy the freshest flavors and crispest textures. This salad is best enjoyed soon after dressing, but can be made slightly in advance if needed (see storage tips).

Storage Tips and Make-Ahead Advice

This salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, it’s recommended to store the dressing separately from the salad ingredients. Combine the dressing and salad just before serving to maintain optimal freshness and prevent the Brussels sprouts and apples from becoming soggy. If you have leftovers of an already dressed salad, you might find that adding a fresh drizzle of dressing and a quick toss can help rejuvenate it before serving again.

Make-Ahead Tips:

• Prep Ingredients: Shave Brussels sprouts, chop apples (tossing them with lemon juice), chop nuts, and slice red onion up to a day in advance. Store each component separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
• Prepare Dressing: The balsamic dressing can be made up to 5 days ahead of time and stored in a sealed jar in the fridge. Give it a good shake or whisk before using, as ingredients may separate.
• Assemble Just Before Serving: To ensure the freshest and crispest salad, combine all the prepped solid ingredients and dress just 15-30 minutes before you plan to serve.

Brussels Sprout Apple Goat Cheese Salad

By Julia Jolliff

This delightful Brussels Sprout Apple Goat Cheese Salad combines thinly shaved Brussels sprouts, crisp sweet apples, tangy dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, a touch of red onion, and creamy goat cheese, all brought together with a bright balsamic dressing.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 1 bag shaved brussels sprouts (or about 1 pound, thinly shredded)
• 4 medium apples, chopped (Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp recommended)
• ¾ cup walnuts, chopped
• ¾ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup goat cheese, crumbled

For the Dressing:

• ½ of a lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Place the shaved Brussels sprouts, chopped apples, walnuts, dried cranberries, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled goat cheese in a large salad bowl. Drizzle the lemon juice over the salad and gently toss to combine.
2. In a mason jar or a salad dressing container, mix together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Shake or stir until all ingredients are well combined and smooth.
3. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and gently toss until all the salad ingredients are evenly coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

• For a quicker preparation, use pre-shredded Brussels sprouts available in the produce section of most grocery stores.
• Tossing chopped apples with a bit of lemon juice immediately after cutting will prevent them from browning.
• Feel free to toast the walnuts lightly in a dry pan for a few minutes to enhance their flavor and crunch before adding them to the salad.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is an approximation. Values per serving (based on 8 servings):

• Calories: 241 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 21g
• Protein: 9g
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
• Cholesterol: 13mg
• Sodium: 191mg
• Potassium: 347mg
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 13g
• Vitamin A: 672 IU
• Vitamin C: 46mg
• Calcium: 80mg
• Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.