Happy Monday! Let’s let the crunchiest brussels sprouts apple salad save our soul today.

This crunchy brussels sprouts apple salad is filled with sprouts, apples, shallots, cinnamon toasted walnuts and drizzled with a brown butter dressing.

Three of my favorite things!

Apples, brussels and brown butter. Now this is a salad that I can get behind.

shredded brussels sprouts

I’ve made lots of brussels salads here before. Mostly because when I would find a vegetable that I actually liked, I would do everything to stretch it. Different salads and sides were a must!

So while I’ve made a shredded brussels salad, thai crunch brussels, a brussels panzanella and this winter crunch salad, along with my absolute favorite brussels caesar, I needed something else. I am a product of this generation so yes, I still needed another option.

No one wants to suffer from brussels sprouts boredom. 

This crunchy brussels sprouts apple salad is filled with sprouts, apples, shallots, cinnamon toasted walnuts and drizzled with a brown butter dressing.

This one is closest to my winter crunch salad, with a few exceptions. The winter crunch salad is definitely a full meal. At least for me. This salad here is meant to be a part of a meal. It’s slightly lighter without as much ooomph added in.

I mean, it’s not as EXTRA.

Except maybe it is super extra, because it’s covered in brown butter dressing? 

Probably. 

brown butter dressing

First, the brussels sprouts in this salad are RAW.

Eeeep! Remember the very first time I ate brussels sprouts and blogged about it? Who would have ever guessed that years (a decade?) later I would be eating them shaved raw in a salad by themselves.

Not me. 

Sure, the sweetness of the apple helps, but there’s not even bacon in this. Who am I and where did I go?!

But here’s the thing. Much like raw kale, once these shredded brussels are tossed with the dressing and kind of “marinate” for a few minutes, they soften, become less bitter and retain some crunch. Making them perfect for a salad. 

Especially when a honeycrisp is involved. And cinnamon toasted walnuts. And shaved parm!

This crunchy brussels sprouts apple salad is filled with sprouts, apples, shallots, cinnamon toasted walnuts and drizzled with a brown butter dressing.

This isn’t a super hearty salad – it obviously wouldn’t be enough for dinner if you’re very hungry. Eddie would take one look at this and laugh and be like “is this my starter?” 

But! If you need a light lunch or dinner, this is it.

It’s also obviously a DELISH side dish to any fall meal. 

Also, brown butter dressing, what?! Don’t freak out. It’s not as serious as hot bacon dressing, which to this day is still probably my mom’s favorite dressing. 

Here, we have a bit of brown butter whisked with garlic, vinegar and dijon. It’s drinkable. 

Everything I want in a brussels dish right here. Crunch crunch crunch.

This crunchy brussels sprouts apple salad is filled with sprouts, apples, shallots, cinnamon toasted walnuts and drizzled with a brown butter dressing.

Crunchy Brussels Sprouts Apple Salad

Crunchy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Brown Butter Dressing

Yield: 2 to 4 people
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
This crunchy brussels sprouts salad is filled with apples, shallots, cinnamon toasted walnuts and drizzled with a brown butter dressing. It's incredible!
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5 from 15 votes
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Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 pounds brussels sprout, stems removed
  • 1 to 2 honeycrisp or golden delicious apples, thinly sliced
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • A few shavings of parmesan cheese

brown butter dressing

Instructions 

  • Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and add the walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir constantly until the walnuts begin to toast and the sugar melts, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the walnuts and place them on a piece of parchment paper to cool. Once cool, chop them if you wish or break them into pieces.
  • Slice the brussels into small pieces or shreds, placing them in a large bowl. Toss with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  • In a separate bowl, place your sliced apples and shallots. Make the brown butter dressing below.
  • Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the dressing on the brussels sprouts and toss well. Let them sit for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, toss together the brussels, apples and shallots. Add the rest of the dressing and toss well. Top with the parmesan and walnuts and serve!

brown butter dressing

  • Place the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and immediately begin whisking. Stir as it bubbles, and after 2 to 3 minutes or so you should see brown bits appear on the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat immediately, add in the garlic and continue to whisk for another 30 seconds.
  • Whisk in the lemon juice, dijon, salt, pepper and oil. You can let the dressing cool slightly, but it’s most delicious when served warm! Whisk it occasionally when serving because a bit of separation is normal.

Notes

recipe adapted from the kitchn
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Author: How Sweet Eats
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This crunchy brussels sprouts apple salad is filled with sprouts, apples, shallots, cinnamon toasted walnuts and drizzled with a brown butter dressing.

Feeling all the veggies.