Recipe: Shredded Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pecorino Romano, Chives, and a Lemony Caper Dressing

This healthy, festive salad—gussied up here with dried cranberries and garbanzo beans—is packed with antioxidants, beneficial ingredients, and flavor.

I once saw a magazine ad where a woman was saying something like, "Is it weird to have a daydream about salad dressing?" which at the time I did think was a little weird. But then one night I found myself telling my hunky farmguy Joe that I couldn't wait to go to sleep so I could wake up and have leftover brussels sprouts salad for breakfast.

Not being a brussels sprouts fan himself, this announcement was met with a worried look and probably an eye roll (it was dark), which was fine, because I wasn't planning on sharing my leftover salad with him anyway.

I love this salad even more than I love my Quick Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Parmesan, and you know I love them a lot. I created it back in 2009 and have been devouring it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks ever since. My recipe notes from 4/15/09 say I mixed up that batch at midnight. You've been warned.

Raw brussels sprouts have a wonderful taste; it's as if the flavor from an entire regular size cabbage has been concentrated down into each little sprout. And of course they're extremely good for you. It's always nice to be crazy about something that's heavenly and healthy.

The brussels sprouts for this salad are quickly shredded in the food processor—thus rendering them unidentifiable by confirmed brussels sprouts haters—and the tangy dressing, which is whizzed up in the blender, can be made several days ahead. I usually make a double batch of dressing to keep on hand for tossing together last minute salads. Try it drizzled over arugula and cherry tomatoes or tossed with thinly sliced raw kale.

This would be a festive, last minute addition to your holiday table, but if one of your goals for 2012 is to up your intake of cruciferous vegetables, it would also be a delicious way to usher in the new year. Raw brussels sprouts at midnight, anyone?

Recipe below. . .

Farmgirl Susan's Brussels Sprouts Salad with Lemon, Romano, and Caper Dressing Dressing

Makes about 5½ cups without any optional additions—Recipe may be doubled

**Click here to print this recipe**

The basic version of this salad is wonderful, but I usually gussy it up with a healthy boost of either raisins and roasted almonds or dried cranberries and garbanzo beans (chickpeas). When I served it to my foodie mom during one of her farm visits, she requested hers with almonds and dried cranberries. Make it however you like.

The dressing tastes even better when made ahead of time, and the salad benefits from being tossed together a few hours in advance. The next day it still tastes great but it isn't quite as pretty. A squeeze of lemon just before serving adds a perfect zip, or offer lemon wedges on the side. As always, I urge you to seek out local and organic ingredients; they really do make a difference. Fresh chives are a luxurious, easy to grow treat, but finely chopped scallions are a fine substitute.

For the dressing (makes a little over 1 cup):

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, preferably first cold-pressed

1/4 cup freshly squeezed organic lemon juice

2 Tablespoons water

1/2 to 1 teaspoon finely grated organic lemon zest

1 heaping Tablespoon capers (no need to rinse)

1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh garlic

1 ounce (about 1/2 cup) finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan)

1/4 teaspoon salt

Several grinds of fresh black pepper

Place all the ingredients in the jar of a counter top blender (I love my big KitchenAid blender) and blend until thoroughly combined. This dressing will keep in the refrigerator for several days. If not using immediately, whisk with a fork before pouring over the salad.

For the salad:

1 pound brussels sprouts, any yellow or funky outer leaves removed and core ends trimmed

1 ounce (about 1/2 cup) freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan)

1/2 cup chopped fresh chives or finely chopped scallions (green parts only)

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Organic lemon juice or lemon wedges for serving

Chopped fresh chives (or scallions) for garnish

Optional additions (listed below)

Shred the brussels sprouts in a food processor using the slicing blade (not the one with the holes). Or you can thinly slice them with a sharp knife or mandoline slicer.

In a large bowl, toss together the brussels sprouts, Pecorino Romano, and chives. Add about 3/4 cup of the dressing and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste, adding a little more dressing and/or any of the optional additions listed below if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh chives and a squirt of lemon juice.

Optional additions:

2/3 cup organic raisins (coarsely chopped if really big)

2/3 cup coarsely chopped roasted and salted almonds

2/3 cup dried cranberries

1 cup canned organic garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

I like to combine raisins and almonds or dried cranberries and garbanzos. My foodie mom prefers almonds with dried cranberries. To make two different variations from one batch, divide the salad in two and add half the amounts listed above: for example, mix 1/3 cup raisins and 1/3 cup almonds with a half batch of salad.

More healthy Farmgirl Fare salad recipes you might enjoy:
Arugula Salad with Pan-Fried Herbed Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Feta, and Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette
Garbanzo Bean Salad with Caramelized Red Onion, Cilantro, and Feta
Mexican Jumping Bean Slaw with Black Beans, Sweet Red Peppers, and Corn
Napa Cabbage Broccoli Slaw with Brussels Sprouts, Radishes, and Creamy Dijon Dressing
Swiss Chard Cabbage Salad with Garbanzo Beans, Broccoli Stems, and Cottage Cheese

Can't survive on simply salad? You'll find links to all my sweet and savory Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes in the Farmgirl Fare Recipe Index.

© FarmgirlFare.com, where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres—and some of us can be pretty selfish with our sprouts.