Best Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

This Flavorful Shaved Brussels Salad uses capers and tahini for a creamy tangy dressing that takes this salad to the next level. It's quick, easy, and healthy. A gluten-free recipe, with an option for oil-free.

Shredded Brussels sprouts, roasted chickpeas, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries in creamy vegan Caesar dressing.

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This easy salad is rich in plant-based protein, fiber, heart-healthy fats, and antioxidants. The sweetness of the dried cranberries balances the tangy and briny flavors of the creamy caper and lemon dressing perfectly.

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🥗 Why this Salad Recipe is Fabulous
👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients
🥬 Substitutes
📖 How to Make Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
✔️ Expert Tips
🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
🍽 Related Recipes
👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
💬 Comments

🥗 Why this Salad Recipe is Fabulous

This nourishing salad is rich in plant-based protein from chickpeas, heart-healthy fats from tahini and sunflower seeds, as well as several vitamins and minerals from Brussels and fresh lemon.
It's an easy recipe to make.
All the ingredients are budget-friendly.
The Brussels sprouts are easily shredded using a food processor, making the prep a breeze for this recipe. No chopping is required.

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Chickpeas,Brussels sprouts, lemon, tahini, mustard, garlic, capers with brine, sesame seeds, and spices for making Chickpea & Brussels Vegan Caesar Salad.

Brussels sprouts
Chickpeas
Cranberries (optional)
Sunflower seeds
Tahini
Dijon mustard
Capers and brine
Lemon
Garlic
Seasoning

See the recipe card for measurements.

🥬 Substitutes

Capers - Try to find jarred capers packed in brine. Otherwise, canned will also work. The brine is also added to the dressing for extra flavor.
Cranberries - add unsweetened or sweetened cranberries for texture. (Aurora Products is a brand that packages unsweetened cranberries.)
Garlic - substitute with garlic powder to taste as needed
Lemon juice - substitute with apple cider vinegar as needed

For more healthy recipe ideas, try these satisfying vegan salads.

📖 How to Make Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Step 1. Make chickpea croutons: Dry the chickpeas with a clean kitchen or paper towel so they get even crispier in the oven. You can remove the skins too, as desired. Toss them with the spices. Season with salt. Add olive oil for a delicious mouthfeel, or skip it for an oil-free option. Roast at 425ºF and then broil after roasting to make extra crispy chickpea croutons.

Roast the chickpeas for making Chickpea & Brussels Vegan Caesar Salad.

Step 2. Prepare the Brussels sprouts: Shred the Brussels sprouts in a food processor using the adjustable slicing disk, or a sharp knife. A food processor will shred the Brussels evenly and quickly. If you don't own a food processor, a sharp knife also works perfectly well, but it will take a bit longer.

Shaved Brussels sprouts in canister of a food processor.

Step 3. Roast the Brussels sprouts (optional): Toss the shaved Brussels with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt. Bake them at the same time as the chickpeas. The texture of sautéed Brussels paired with the creamy dressing is nothing short of delicious. However, for oil-free, skip the step of roasting the Brussels sprouts.

Shaved Brussels sprouts on a black nonstick rimmed baking sheet.

Step 4. Prepare the dressing: Simply mix the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. No blending is required. To pack in even more flavor, the garlic and lemon zest is grated directly into the dressing.

Yellow salad dressing in a glass beaker with a metal whisk.

For serving: Add one-half of the dressing to the shaved Brussels sprouts and mix. Gently stir in the sunflower seeds and dried cranberries, so the salad doesn't become mushy. Top with the roasted chickpeas for serving, so that they remain crispy. Drizzle with more dressing as desired.

✔️ Expert Tips

For oil-free, roast the seasoned chickpeas without oil. Use the shredded raw Brussels sprouts for making the salad.
Jarred capers preserved in brine work best for this recipe.
Storage: Refrigerate any remaining dressing in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Store the salad in a separate container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What are capers?

Capers are the green, unripened buds of the caper bush. The plant is native to the Mediterranean but is now grown in many countries. Once picked, the capers are dried and brined, or packed in salt. This brings out their lemony, slightly floral green olive-like flavor. They add a briny, salty quality to a dish, which is what makes them a perfect addition to this vegan Caesar salad. They are also used to add texture and tanginess to soups, stews, sauces, roasted veggies, and salads, or used as a garnish. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly.
Substitutes: Substitute capers for finely chopped green olives.
Storage: This recipe uses brined capers. Once opened, keep the capers submerged in their brine, and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to nine months.

Is dried fruit healthy?

Dried fruits are easy to store and eat. They are a convenient way to add a burst of flavor, or a touch of sweetness, to a dish.
Both fresh and dried fruit are a healthy source of calories. But because dried fruit is smaller and more concentrated than the fresh fruit from which it comes, it's easier to consume a lot of calories and sugar eating dried fruit. In addition, some manufacturers of dried fruit add additional sugars beyond those which are naturally occurring. Enjoy dried fruit in moderation, and try to find brands with the least amount of added sugar.
Dried cherries can be substituted for dried cranberries in this recipe. Dried cherries tend to be a lot less sweet, but they are typically more expensive.

Can I make Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad ahead of time?

Yes! This mixed salad is good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Prep this recipe for lunch on the go.