Fall Brussel Sprout Salad

Save some room in your oven with this raw brussel sprout salad. Most likely, you have about 5 different side dishes plus a turkey that all need to be cooked in one oven.  Instead of adding another dish to your list, why not make a no-cook side featuring brussel sprouts?


I haven't had the pleasure of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner yet, but I'm always helping out in the kitchen whether we are celebrating at my families house or Blake's mother's house. Inevitably, there are always too many side dishes to keep track of. All of course need their own cooking time and temperature. I'm not sure how these ladies do it. I'm no where near organized enough...

That's why this salad is so great, because it screams fall and it's an addition to your holiday dinner without the added stress. The best part is that most of the salad can be prepared ahead of time. Brussel sprouts and kale are both hardy, so you can dice these items up a few days ahead of time and then add the dressing an hour before serving.

INGREDIENTS: 
There are no measurements here because salads are all about what you like. Adjust the amounts as necessary or add in other items to make it your own. The basics of my salad are below: 

Kale - cut up into bite sized pieces
Brussel Sprouts - THINLY sliced
Onions - thinly sliced
cranberries

Topping:
Crumbled Bacon
Feta Cheese
Sunflower Seeds

Dressing:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Balsamic Vinegar - splash
Dijon Mustard
Honey
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper

When you are cutting the brussel  sprouts, I recommend cutting them in half, and then thinly slicing them. If you have a mandolin, you can use this instead. I cut up all of my kale, brussel sprouts, and onions and added them into the bowl with the cranberries. If you don't have cranberries, diced up apples would be great too. Pour the dressing over and allow it to "marinade" for a bit. The vinegar will soften up the kale and brussel sprouts a bit and everything will begin to meld together.

Once you're ready to serve, add more dressing if necessary, and top with your favorite fall items!