Winter Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels sprouts are tossed with pomegranate seeds, pecans, pears, parmesan cheese, and a light dressing to create this Winter Brussels Sprouts Salad. This is a healthy, easy-to-make side that pairs beautifully with any holiday or winter meal. 

Winter Brussels Sprout Salad

I’m not sure I should call this a “winter” Brussels sprouts salad because it isn’t necessarily winter-specific. However, with the addition of pomegranate seeds, maple syrup, pears, and pecans it felt wintery to me. (Of course, feel free to make it any time of the year!) 

Over the past few seasons, I’ve been working to add more green salad recipes to the blog. It’s something I felt was lacking, so it feels good to make some progress. If you missed any of them, here are some of my latest salad additions:

• Summer Berry Spinach Salad 
• Broccolini Salad
• Butternut Squash Fall Salad
• Radiatori Salad

I also have an entire post dedicated to my favorite salad recipes which include greens salads, pasta salads, and even dessert salads. You can find that post HERE. 

Since I’ve covered most of the seasons, I wanted to do something that was healthy and fresh as well as flavorful and hearty for the winter months. That led me to this Winter Brussels Sprouts Salad. I couldn’t be more pleased with how it came together. The combination of flavors is so good!

You could serve this as a side dish to any meal or top it with your favorite protein and serve it as a main course. It will be a winner either way. 

If you still need more convincing to try this salad, know that before this recipe was published, my Mom made it for one of her friends and it was a big hit. 

Curious to give it a try? Let me walk you through the recipe. 

How to Make Brussels Sprouts Salad:

In addition to the steps that follow, I’ve provided a detailed ingredient list and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. 
2. Add the shaved Brussels sprouts to a large bowl. 

3. Drizzle with about ½ cup of the dressing and toss to combine. Let rest for about 30 minutes.
4. Add the pecans, pear slices, shaved parmesan, and pomegranate seeds. 

5. Toss to combine. 
6. Drizzle with the remaining dressing before serving. 

And with that, your winter Brussels sprout salad is ready to be enjoyed! 

There’s freshness, crunch, fruit, and hints of sweetness and saltiness. It’s a winning combination. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can this be made in advance?

I wouldn’t recommend it. This salad is best served the day of. Though, you can slice the Brussels sprouts and gather up the rest of the ingredients in advance to save you some time when preparing it.

Should I buy whole or shaved Brussels sprouts?

You can buy pre-shaved Brussels sprouts. However, I find them to never be as good as freshly cut. While it does take extra time, I recommend buying whole and slicing them yourself.

If I don’t like one of the ingredients, can I make a substitution?

Of course! Unfortunately, I don’t have the capacity to try every possible variation of this recipe. If there’s something you don’t like or something you think might be “better”, then give it a try.

• Use walnuts instead of pecans.
• Try apples instead of pears.
• Substitute goat cheese for the parmesan.
• Add dried cranberries instead of pomegranate seeds.

You get the idea!

Toss and enjoy!

I hope you are able to find an occasion to whip up this winter-inspired Brussels sprouts salad. Make it for the holidays, make it for a random weeknight dinner, or make it to serve at lunch with friends. 

No matter how, when, or where, I hope you enjoy it! 

 Enjoy this winter salad and want more? 

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