Crispy Brussels Sprout Salad

A crispy shaved brussels sprout salad, thinly sliced and tossed in a sweet cilantro lime dressing. An easy sheet pan meal for the work week.

Salad consumption doesn’t stop for me in the winter. If anything, my bowls turn into hearty, warming comfort bowls instead. And that’s because salad is not just defined by raw vegetables. You can roast them too, and honestly, it makes them taste that much better. To keep the fall theme alive, we are roasting some winter squash with some shaved brussels sprouts. But to give it more character, slicing both really thin to make the base of our salad. Serve it with crispy chickpeas and a delicious sauce, and you will be craving it all the time like me.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Squash: I used delicata squash as it is easier to cut and handle. You can use any other squash you love here too like butternut squash, honey nut squash or acorn squash.

Brussels Sprouts: The closest alternative to brussels sprouts is cabbage. If not a fan of this vegetable, try this recipe with some massaged kale instead.

Onion: I used red onion, but you can use yellow onion or shallots as an alternative.

Chickpeas: I used canned chickpeas for more convenience. You can also used cooked lentils or white beans as an alternative to roast.

Seasonings: I used a combination of garlic, thyme, coriander, Chinese Five Spice (Five Spice Powder), and fennel seeds. Feel free to adjust based on your own taste preference. If you are unfamiliar with Chinese Five Spice, it tends to be a blend of cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, star anise, and white pepper, which helps to emphasize some of the sweet notes in the squash and brussels sprouts.

Tahini: For those with a sesame seed allergy, swap with a thick plant based yogurt like Forager Project.

Lime: Use fresh to get more lime flavor out of the zest. If not a fan of lime, try lemon instead.

Cilantro: Not a fan of cilantro? Swap it out for some minced chives instead.

Maple Syrup: Feel free to swap with an alternative like agave if you prefer.

Cornstarch: This will help with the crust of the squash and to help it from getting too soft when roasting. Feel free to omit if desired.

How Do You Shave Brussels Sprouts?

Shaved brussels sprouts refers to thinly sliced brussels sprouts. It just sounds nicer. There are a few ways you can achieve this thin look. If you are confident with your knife skills, you can do it manually by slicing your sprouts thinly with a sharp knife. You can also use a shredding tool like a mandoline to get it shaved thin. You can now also find pre-shredded brussels sprouts sold in stores as well. So choose the method that best works for you!

I find it is worth thinly cutting them as it makes them roast quickly and also gives you nice crispy edges too.

How to Make a Roasted Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Preheat the oven:

Preheat the oven to 425F and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the rinsed chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. Transfer the chickpeas to one baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tbsp of oil. Toss to coat and bake for 15 minutes.

Season chickpeas:

Remove the chickpeas from the oven and top with a 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, thyme and salt. Use a spoon to stir everything together then place back in the oven for 15 minutes until crispy.

Prepare squash:

Cut the ends off of the squash, then cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds, then thinly slice. Transfer to a separate baking sheet then coat with cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, coriander, Five spice, and thyme. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon or more oil as needed, then toss together to evenly coat. Spread the squash out on the tray in a single layer then place in the oven on the bottom rack for 13-15 minutes or until the bottoms begin to get golden brown. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt when out of the oven.

Prepare brussels sprouts and onions:

To the last tray add the brussels sprouts and onions. Top with 1 tablespoon of oil, the maple syrup, 1 tsp fresh thyme and 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, coriander, Five Spice, fennel seeds and a pinch of salt. Toss to evenly coat then spread out evenly on the baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes. Transfer the roasted squash to the tray of brussels sprouts and toss to combine.

Make the dressing:

While everything is roasting, make the dressing. To a small mixing bowl add the tahini, maple syrup, garlic, mustard, cilantro, lime zest and juice, and a generous pinch of salt then whisk to combine. The sauce will thicken at which point you can whisk in 3 tablespoons of water to thin it out. If you want the sauce thinner, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until desired consistency is achieved.

Serve:

To serve, add a cooked grain of choice to a bowl then top with a portion of the brussels sprout squash mix, crispy chickpeas then drizzle with the dressing.

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Expert Tips

Save time and don’t peel the squash. Delicata squash and acorn squash both have thin peels that are completely edible and provide additional fiber to this meal.

Roasting times for squash may vary depending on how thin they are sliced. If you prefer thicker pieces, do note that they will require more time in the oven to roast and become golden, which may take 30-35 minutes (do make sure to flip half way).

Get really crispy chickpeas with this step. Do an initial roast with just oil. Allow the chickpeas to cool for a few minutes before adding seasonings and salt, then return to the oven to roast for an additional 15 minutes.

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How to Serve

The main components of this salad do form a complete meal on their own, but you can also serve this salad with more grains or proteins based on your own preference. Here are some ideas of how to serve your salad to achieve different nutrition goals:

Add grains to bulk up the salad: I like to serve this salad over freshly cooked rice, but this also goes great with higher fiber options like quinoa or farro..

For more protein: Mix the chickpeas with some chopped pistachios or pumpkin seeds. You can also serve this with some baked tofu on the side too.

Use more veggies: Feel free to accompany the salad with extra raw greens if desired. For thicker leaves like kale, make sure to cut into bite size pieces and massage with a little oil, salt and lemon to make it easier to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recipes

→ Can I use pre-shredded brussels sprouts?

Yes, pre-shredded brussels sprouts save time and work well. Just ensure they are fresh and not overly moist before roasting.

→ What squash works best if I can't find delicata?

Butternut, acorn, or honey nut squash are great alternatives. Just slice them thinly for even roasting.

→ How can I make the dressing without tahini?

Swap tahini for thick plant-based yogurt or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.

→ How do I get chickpeas really crispy?

Dry thoroughly, roast with oil first, then season and return to the oven for extra crispiness.

→ Can this be served cold?

Yes, it’s delicious warm or cold. For best results, store components separately and dress before serving.

→ Is there a way to add more protein?

Yes, try baked tofu, tempeh, or mix in toasted nuts or seeds like pistachios or pumpkin seeds.