Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad | Greedy Gourmet

Question 1

How do you shave Brussels sprouts?

Accepted Answer

You can shred brussels sprouts using a food processor or manually, using a sharp knife.

Shaving Brussels sprouts using a food processor
After thoroughly washing them, cut the end of the Brussels sprouts and remove any outer leaves that look dirty or damaged. Then place them in your food processor and shred them using the shredder attachment.

Shaving Brussels sprouts using a knife
Again, wash the sprouts and remove any blemished outer leaves. Then, using a sharp chef's knife (a blunt knife can be dangerous, as you have less control), cut each sprout in half.

With the flat side of the sprouts halves facing downwards, slice the sprouts. It may take a while when compared to shaving Brussels sprouts in a food processor, but you'll end up with a coarser shaved Brussels sprouts salad, which some people prefer.

Shaving Brussels sprouts using a mandolin
Not as tedious as using a knife, yet you get nice chunky uniform slices, which is not always the case when using a food processor, using a mandolin to shave Brussels sprouts is a good option. Again, you'll need to wash and trim the sprouts, before adding one sprout at a time to the mandolin.

If you use a mandolin to shave your sprouts, you can also use it to slice your apples. It's not for everyone, as it can be a little time consuming, but if you want a beautiful looking salad, this could be the way to go.

Question 2

Can you buy pre shredded Brussels sprouts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can get shaved Brussels sprouts at most good supermarkets and food stores. I always prefer to use fresh ingredients, but if you haven't got the time and don't have a food processor, you can use pre-shaved sprouts.

Question 3

Can you eat shaved raw Brussels sprouts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This shaved Brussel sprout salad uses raw sprouts. It makes sense when you think about it – sprouts are like mini cabbages, and you can use raw cabbage in coleslaw and some salads. So, why not use raw Brussel sprouts in a salad?

Question 4

What do raw Brussel sprouts taste like?

Accepted Answer

For most people, raw Brussel sprouts have a mellow nuttiness and a slight bitterness that's quite pleasant. It's that earthy vegetable flavor that you get from raw green vegetables – if you're a fan, this salad is for you.

Also, the hint of bitterness works really well when balanced with the other flavors in this salad – the oil, the tang of the mustard, the sweetness of the honey and the refreshing, crisp fruity apple taste.

However, for some with certain taste buds, Brussels sprouts are just too much. There's actually some science behind this, and apparently, some people have a gene that means they can taste a certain chemical in sprouts.

I'm guessing you're not one of these people, or you wouldn't be here!

Question 5

What apples are best for a salad?

Accepted Answer

The best types of apples for salads are crunchy. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Fuji, Jazz, and Envy are great for this salad.

I also like Opal, Empire, and Gala apples, as they don't brown. This means they blend into the salad quite well, even after you've left it in the fridge for some time.

Question 6

Can I prepare elements of this salad ahead of time?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! If you're using Opal, Empire, or Gala apples, you can slice them beforehand, as they don't brown very quickly.

The same with the sprouts – they can be shaved ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you're ready to assemble the salad.

You can also make the dressing the day before.

Finally, you can toast your walnuts ahead of time. They are quick and easy to toast, and will make your salad taste incredible!

Description

Ingredients

For the Salad:

For the Dressing:

Instructions

Notes