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–+ servings

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pear, Bacon and Cranberry

Brenda Lanzilli
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Pear, Bacon and Cranberry salad just might be my favorite recipe of Thanksgiving!! Yes- I know it's a mere salad, but I'm quite happy with a nutrient packed and easy on the waist line recipe! Shredded raw Brussels Sprouts, nutty Manchego cheese, toasted walnuts, juicy pears, and tart dried cranberries, are tossed with a bacon flavored apple cider vinaigrette with mild note of citrus. Every bite of this delicious and festive salad is bursting with flavor and texture!
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Servings 12
Calories 347 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb brussel sprouts bottoms trimmed, shredded
  • 1 cup walnuts toasted and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
  • 2 2 bartlett pears cored and diced small
  • 1½ cup Manchego cheese grated
  • 8 slices of bacon crisped, fat reserved

For Dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 shallot thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp thyme fresh leaves, chopped
  • 2  tbsp rendered bacon drippings

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the walnuts on a sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes, until toasted. Set the nuts aside to cool completely, then roughly chop.
  • Turn heat up to 400° and bake bacon for 10 minutes until crispy. Remove from oven and let bacon rest on paper towel. Reserve 2 tbsp of bacon fat for dressing. Roughly chop crisped bacon slices.
  • To make the vinaigrette, add rendered bacon fat and olive oil to medium sized skillet. When the oil shimmers, add the shallots, cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly. Transfer to mixing bowl and whisk in apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, thyme, orange zest, lemon zest. Season with salt, pepper to taste.
  • In a large salad bowl, combine the shredded brussels sprouts, cheese, walnuts, cranberries and bacon. Just before serving prepare the diced pear and add to salad bowl. Toss with dressing to combine.

Notes

Nutrition Facts are estimates. 
To make in advance: prepare all ingredients, and combine in desired bowl without adding the pears or dressing. When ready to serve add pears and dressing, toss to combine. 

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 10gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 211mgPotassium: 415mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 668IUVitamin C: 67mgCalcium: 198mgIron: 2mg
Keyword bacon, brussel sprout, brussels sprout salad, brussels sprouts, dried cranberries, fall recipes, manchego, maple syrup, pear, seasonal, shaved brussels sprout salad, thanksgiving, thanksgiving salad, thanksgiving side dish, walnuts, winter recipes, winter salad
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