shaved brussels sprouts salad

A simple Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad makes for an elegant and creamy side dish for weeknight meals or holiday celebrations. Made with only 4 ingredients and a homemade Caesar dressing.

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This easy recipe has all of the classic characteristics of a Caesar salad. Fresh cheese, homemade croutons, and a creamy homemade dressing. Made with shredded brussels sprouts instead of romaine lettuce, this salad is light, fresh, and very easy to put together.

The short list of ingredients in this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad delivers big on flavor! All you need are brussels sprouts, cheese, croutons, and a dressing. The recipe is also very flexible, so you can add any toppings you like without disrupting the flavor.

This salad would be a great addition to your holiday meal or when you need a fresh and simple salad for a weeknight dinner. Its wintery and creamy flavors matched with crisp brussels sprouts pair well with almost any dish. I especially like it on the side of a rib eye steak and smashed potatoes with garlic.

I made this recipe using my homemade Classic Caesar Dressing. Using 7 staple ingredients, this dressing whips up in no time, is incredibly flavorful, and keeps for up to 2 weeks!

How to shave brussels sprouts

Put the razor away. This is a different kind of shave!

Before we start shaving or shredding the brussels sprouts, we’ll need to clean them up. Trim off the ends of each sprout and discard any outer leaves that are bruised or discolored. There are a few different ways to shave brussels sprouts:

• Using a food processor: Drop the sprouts into the bowl of a food processor and use the slicing attachment to chop into small pieces.
• Using a mandoline: Shred the whole brussels sprouts individually on a mandoline set to ⅛”.
• With a knife: Slice each sprout in half, from top to bottom, cutting through the core. Place the sprouts cut side down on a cutting board, then use a sharp knife to thinly slice into ribbons.

Once they’re shredded, transfer the sprouts to a bowl of cold water. Rinse them well, then add to your salad.

Ingredients you need for brussels sprouts salad

Do me a favor and make this salad with homemade dressing! Taking only a little bit of extra time, you’ll end up with a dressing that doesn’t skimp on the fresh flavors (while saving yourself some money).

This is what you need:

• Brussels sprouts
• Caesar salad dressing
• Parmigiano Reggiano 
• Artisan bread

How to make a shaved brussels sprouts salad with croutons

It’s very easy to put this recipe for brussels sprout salad together. You can even make the croutons or shave the sprouts ahead of time! 

This is what you need to do:

1. Make the homemade croutons: Place the torn pieces of bread on a rimmed baking sheet, then toss with olive oil and kosher salt. Bake for 7 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown.
2. Put the salad together: Place the shredded brussels sprouts in a large bowl. Pour the Caesar dressing overtop and toss to coat. Add the shaved cheese and toss again. Add the croutons right before you’re ready to serve.

Recipe tips and variations

• Use any artisan bread you love for the croutons. Whole wheat boule, sourdough, focaccia, ciabatta, or a baguette will all work. 
• Use the inside of the bread and not the crust for the best croutons.
• Top the salad with as many toppings as you like, such as dried cranberries, chopped up bacon slices, apple chunks, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, or pomegranate seeds.
• If you’re not a fan of Caesar dressing, my easy mustard dressing will pair perfectly with the flavors in this salad.
• If you can’t find Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, a fresh brick of Parmesan or Pecorino will work just as well. 

Storing leftovers

Brussels sprouts can be shaved up to 2 days in advance to save you time. Keep them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge until you’re ready to put the salad together.

My homemade Caesar dressing will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Go ahead and make a batch way ahead of time.

Don’t add the croutons to the salad until you’re ready to serve or else they’ll become soggy in the dressing. Leftover or premade croutons can be stored in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 days. 

This salad tastes best when it’s freshly made. If you’re making it ahead of time, don’t toss the salad with the dressing until you’re ready to serve. 

More salad recipes

Give these recipes a try the next time you’re craving something fresh and easy:

• Mediterranean Summer Salad With Shrimp
• Grilled Caesar Salad
• Radicchio Salad With Creamy Ranch Dressing
• Crunchy Kale Salad

Did you try this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe? Let me know what you think! Leave a comment or rate this recipe below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram! I love to share all of your recreations!