Shaved Brussels Sprout Apple Salad with Pecans

This Shaved Brussels Sprout Apple Salad with Pecans is tossed in a light maple vinaigrette and makes a delicious, crunchy side dish.

This brussels sprout apple salad recipe is a bit of a riff on my original Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Parmesan & Mustard Vinaigrette.

😍 This one’s real pretty. 😍

Gussied up with some thin-sliced apples and a sprinkling of pecans. And, because it’s Fall, there’s a little maple syrup in there too…

Raw sprouts can seem like a bit of an odd thing… You would never think of serving raw Brussels sprouts on a crudité platter along with some dip. But, much like kale, which can be a bit tough and bitter in its raw state, if the sprouts are sliced thinly enough, and then left to meld with some vinaigrette for a while, they take on a softer, more delicate flavor, but still with a nice bite.

This has quickly become one of my favorite Fall salad recipes, rivaled only by this Fennel & Celery Salad and this Arugula Salad. It’s tangy, with a good bite from the mustard, and a bit salty and nutty at the end with the finishing of parmesan cheese.

I also love that these shaved brussel sprouts can sit for a bit – meaning that it’s a great salad for easy dinner parties and holiday gatherings. The flavors will only continue to combine and the brussels sprouts won’t lose their wonderful texture.

So, this salad would be the perfect companion to a Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients needed

• Brussels Sprouts – Some stores sell pre-shredded brussel sprouts which would be a perfect timesaver for this recipe.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Or, swap in red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or champagne vinegar.
• Whole Grain Mustard – I like the “pop” of the whole mustard seeds. But you can also use dijon or brown mustard.
• Maple Syrup – This can be replaced with honey or a little sugar.
• Olive oil
• Parmesan Cheese – Pecorino Romano or Manchego are other great cheese options.
• Apple – I prefer honey crisp or pink lady apples. However, any sweet-tart apples will work well.
• Pecans – Or swap in walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or toasted pine nuts.

How to make shaved brussels sprouts

There are three options for making shredded brussels sprouts:

1. Holding onto the stem end of the brussels sprout, use a sharp knife to thinly slice them.
2. Use a mandolin to make thin slices of brussels sprouts.
3. Use the slicing blade of your food processor to make thin ribbons. (This is my preferred method to make shredded sprouts in a hurry.)

Recipe variations

• Swap out the pecans for pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, toasted pine nuts, or sunflower seeds.
• Add in some chopped crispy bacon.
• Swap out the parmesan for some creamy goat cheese, manchego, or pecorino romano.

What to serve with it

Wine pairings

• With its minerality and hints of stone fruit, a Dry Riesling will pop against the mustard vinaigrette on this salad.
• A light Pinot Noir with bright acidity and earthy notes will compliment the flavors in this salad nicely.

More brussel sprout recipes

More salad recipes

Did you try this apple brussel sprout salad?

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Do you have a favorite brussels sprouts recipe that you fix on the regular? Let me know in the comments below!

This post was originally published in 2022. It was updated in 2024 to add new information. The recipe remains the same. Enjoy!