Quick & Easy Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad: A Healthy Twist on a Classic
Craving a vibrant, flavorful salad that’s both indulgent and surprisingly quick to prepare? Look no further than this incredible Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad! Combining the earthy crunch of raw Brussels sprouts with the rich, creamy goodness of Caesar dressing, savory bacon, and irresistible homemade croutons, this salad delivers a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Best of all, it can be on your table in under ten minutes of active preparation time, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or a refreshing side dish.
Caesar salads hold a special place in our hearts. They possess a luxurious feel, yet are remarkably straightforward to assemble, making them a consistent favorite at Casa de Crews. Whether we’re grilling steak or enjoying a homemade pizza on a Friday night, a Caesar salad is almost always on the menu. While traditional romaine or hearty kale are classic choices for a Caesar, we’ve discovered a delightful seasonal variation: crisp, thinly shaved raw Brussels sprouts. When tossed with a robust homemade Caesar dressing, crunchy bacon bits, and golden croutons, they transform into a spectacular salad that’s both familiar and exciting.
This recipe highlights the versatility of Brussels sprouts, showcasing how their slightly bitter, nutty flavor and firm texture provide an excellent foundation for a Caesar salad. Unlike their cooked counterparts, raw shaved Brussels sprouts offer a unique crispness that stands up wonderfully to the creamy dressing, preventing the salad from becoming soggy. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a nutrient-packed vegetable in a completely new light.
Effortlessly Shredding Brussels Sprouts for Your Salad
The secret to a truly outstanding shaved Brussels sprout Caesar salad lies in perfectly thin and consistent shreds. While you can certainly achieve this with a sharp chef’s knife and a bit of patience, the fastest and most efficient method is using a food processor equipped with a slicing attachment. This tool transforms a potentially tedious task into a quick and simple one, ensuring uniform slices that are ideal for absorbing dressing and adding that signature crunch.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing your Brussels sprouts:
- Clean Thoroughly: Begin by rinsing your whole Brussels sprouts under cold running water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry gently.
- Trim the Stems: Using a sharp chef’s knife, carefully slice off the tough, woody ends of the Brussels sprout stems. Discard these trimmed pieces.
- Remove Outer Leaves: As you trim the stems, some of the loose or damaged outer leaves will naturally fall away. Discard these as well, ensuring you’re left with fresh, compact sprouts.
- Process in Batches: Fit your food processor with the slicing attachment. Drop a handful of whole, trimmed Brussels sprouts into the feed tube. Process until they are thinly sliced. Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to work in several small batches to avoid overloading the machine and to ensure even shredding.
That’s all there is to it! In just a few moments, you’ll have a bowl full of beautifully shredded Brussels sprouts, ready to be transformed into a sensational salad. While your sprouts are being prepped, it’s the perfect time to get your other components, like crispy bacon and golden homemade croutons, ready to ensure your Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad comes together seamlessly.
Crafting Perfect Homemade Croutons for Your Caesar Salad
Elevate your Caesar salad experience with homemade croutons. There’s simply no comparison to the flavor and texture of croutons made fresh in your kitchen versus those from a bag. They’re like miniature, perfectly seasoned crostini, adding an unparalleled crunch and savory depth to every bite. The best part? They require only ten minutes of baking time and a few simple ingredients to achieve a truly legitimate, gourmet taste that will impress everyone.
Follow these easy steps to make your own:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). This slightly higher temperature helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior quickly.
- Prepare the Bread: Take half of a standard French baguette. Slice it into small, uniform cubes, roughly 1/2 to 3/4 inch in size. The consistency in size is key for even baking. If you don’t have a baguette, a crusty sourdough loaf works wonderfully too.
- Season and Toss: Transfer the cubed bread to a large baking sheet. Drizzle generously with about 2 tablespoons of good quality olive oil. Add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Toss everything together thoroughly with your hands to ensure every piece of bread is lightly coated with oil and seasonings.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for approximately ten minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Make sure to flip the croutons halfway through the baking process (around the 5-minute mark) to ensure even browning on all sides.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the croutons from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet. They will crisp up further as they cool. This step is crucial before adding them to your Caesar Salad to maintain their crunch.
Making your own croutons not only enhances the flavor profile of your Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad but also allows you to control the ingredients and avoid unwanted additives. Plus, the aroma of freshly baked garlic croutons filling your kitchen is an added bonus! For maximum time-efficiency, you can prepare the bacon and croutons for your salad ahead of time. This significantly reduces your active kitchen time when you’re ready to serve. While pre-shredded Brussels sprouts are an option for convenience, we find that shredding them fresh yields a noticeably crisper and fresher texture. However, always choose what works best for your schedule and preferences!
The Heart of the Salad: Exceptional Caesar Dressing
No Caesar salad, whether traditional or with a Brussels sprout twist, is complete without an outstanding dressing. The dressing is truly the heart of this dish, providing that signature creamy, tangy, and savory kick that ties all the ingredients together. While there are many good store-bought options available, crafting your own homemade Caesar dressing offers a level of freshness and customization that’s hard to beat.
A classic Caesar dressing typically features a harmonious blend of ingredients like olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste (or whole anchovies for the purists!), and egg yolk, all emulsified to a rich, velvety consistency. The combination delivers a complex flavor profile that is both bright and deeply umami. If you’re following specific dietary guidelines, such as Whole30 or Paleo, making your own dressing allows you to easily control ingredients and ensure compliance. Our homemade Caesar dressing recipe is specifically designed to be Whole30 compliant, meaning it’s free from sugar, dairy, and other common additives, without sacrificing any of that beloved Caesar flavor. It’s the perfect complement to the robust flavor of raw Brussels sprouts.
When assembling your salad, start with a conservative amount of dressing and add more to taste. The goal is to lightly coat every sprout and ingredient, ensuring a burst of flavor in each bite without drowning the salad. This method also allows the natural crunch of the Brussels sprouts and croutons to shine through.
Customizing Your Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad
One of the best aspects of this Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad is its adaptability. While delicious on its own, it serves as an excellent base for various additions and dietary modifications:
- Add Protein: For a more substantial meal, consider adding grilled chicken breast, pan-seared shrimp, baked salmon, or even hard-boiled eggs. These proteins transform the salad into a complete and satisfying entrée.
- Boost the Crunch: Beyond croutons and bacon, you can incorporate toasted nuts like pecans or walnuts for an extra layer of texture and healthy fats. Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds also make great additions.
- Extra Veggies: Thinly sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, or even some finely chopped bell peppers can add more color, flavor, and nutrients.
- Cheese Options: While Parmigiano-Reggiano is traditional, crumbled goat cheese or feta can introduce different tangy notes. If omitting dairy for dietary reasons, nutritional yeast can provide a cheesy flavor.
- Make it Vegan: To make this salad vegan, simply omit the bacon and Parmesan cheese. Ensure your Caesar dressing is also vegan-friendly (our homemade Whole30 dressing can easily be adapted by omitting anchovies and egg yolks, using a plant-based mayonnaise base, and adding a touch of capers for brininess).
Discover More Delightful Recipes:
If you’ve enjoyed this fresh take on a classic, you might also love these other recipes that celebrate homemade goodness and versatile ingredients:
- Our signature homemade Caesar dressing: Perfect for this recipe and any other salad craving.
- Homemade ranch dressing: Another staple that elevates any salad or vegetable platter.
- Brussels sprouts salad with bacon + shallots: For those who love Brussels sprouts cooked with savory depth.
shredded brussels sprouts caesar salad
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Ingredients
Homemade Croutons
- 1/2 French baguette, cubed – can also use sourdough loaf
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
- 6 slices bacon – cooked to package directions, crumbled
- ¼ cup croutons – homemade or store bought
- 2 lbs brussels sprouts – cleaned, trimmed and shredded
- ¼ cup Caesar Salad Dressing – plus more to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese – optional
Instructions
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First make the croutons: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Slice 1/2 of a French Baguette into small cubes.To a baking sheet, add cubed baguette and a generous drizzle of olive oil, about 2 TBSP and toss with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bake for ten minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove and cool before tossing into your Caesar Salad.
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Prepare bacon according to package directions. Once done, allow to cool before roughly chopping.
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While bacon and croutons cook, prepare Brussels sprouts: rinse with water and trim stems. Using the slicing attachment of your food processor, add a handful of whole Brussels and shred. This will need to be done in batches.
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Transfer shredded sprouts to a serving bowl. Add croutons and chopped bacon. Mix in ¼ cup Caesar Salad dressing and gently toss to combine. Add additional dressing, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
if on a whole30 or paleo, omit croutons and Parmesan.
Nutrition
Why This Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad is a Must-Try
This Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad isn’t just a side dish; it’s a culinary experience that brings a fresh, healthy perspective to a beloved classic. The combination of creamy dressing, the crisp bite of raw Brussels sprouts, the salty crunch of bacon, and the savory depth of homemade croutons creates a symphony of textures and flavors that is truly addictive. It’s a perfect option for those looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet in a delicious and satisfying way.
The ease of preparation makes it an ideal go-to recipe for any occasion. Whether you’re whipping it up for a quick lunch, serving it as an impressive side at a dinner party, or enjoying it as a light yet fulfilling main course, this salad delivers. It’s fresh, flavorful, and full of goodness, showcasing how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly extraordinary. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the suggested variations to make it your own. Enjoy this delightful twist on a classic, and savor every creamy, crunchy, tart, and tangy bite!