Shaved Brussels and Honey Cider VInaigrette

Brussels sprouts have been one of my side dish staples for years now, but until yesterday, I’ve never tried to create a salad with them, or prepare them raw.

I’ve been to two restaurants around town that have a shaved Brussels sprout salad that are great: Late Harvest Kitchen ( at the Fashion Mall) and Pizzology (on Mass Ave). Monday I met a friend at Pizzaology for lunch, and of course got a pizza for lunch, but ordered a Brussels sprout salad to-go for my dinner at work that night.

Let me say: IT WAS AMAZING (I’m a bit of a salad aficionado) and I’m sure the dressing had a lot to do with my love for the dish. Here is my effort at recreating the dish, with a dressing that didn’t turn out quite like Pizzaology’s (because I didn’t have a recipe to go off- I just made it up) but it was still pretty damn good!

Salad Ingredients:

•  1 1/2 lb shaved Brussels sprouts ( I used a Chef’n brand mandolin to slice/shave the Brussels.. You can purchase one here. This tool is great for slicing any veggie! Just watch your fingers!)
• 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 Bartlett pear, cut into matchsticks
• 1 Pink Lady apple, cut into matchsticks
• zest from one lemon
• 1/2 cup chopped candied pecans
• Garnish: smoked salmon trimming

Dressing Ingredients:

• juice from 1 large lemon
• 6 shakes of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (I always add this to my salad dressings)
• 4 Tbsp honey
• Zest from 1 lemon
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup Apple Cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup EVOO

1.  Shave all your Brussels. (That sounds dirty . . . muah ha ha)
2. Add all salad ingredients, toss.
3. Add dressing, toss again.
4. Top with fresh cracked pepper, lemon zest and smoked salmon. Add a little extra blue cheese if you’re feeling frisky.

And VIOLA! That’s it. Easy peasy.  I like to leave my greens dressing-free in the fridge for salads through out the week. There will be plenty of left overs here- so you’ll have those shaved bad boys waiting for you. Like I’ve said before, I always like to make my recipe in large quantities because I’m the left-over queen.

Anywho- this is my new obsesh. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I do!

xo Kelli