Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad with Walnuts, Parmesan & Lemon-Mustard Dressing

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Be prepared to love this salad of crisp greens, walnuts and lemony Dijon dressing. It tastes like a healthful, crunchy Caesar.

Forks on a plate of kale and brussels sprout salad with walnuts, parmesan, and lemon-mustard dressing.

Made with crisp power greens, toasted walnuts, chunks of Parmesan and a lemony Dijon dressing—this kale Brussels sprouts salad tastes like a healthful, crunchy Caesar. Trust me, you’ll love it—even if you’re not a “greens” person. My husband, who usually avoids Brussels sprouts, devoured it without even realizing they were in there (until my 10-year-old daughter spilled the beans, giggling with every bite he took). It’s perfect for weekday lunches or as a side to cedar planked salmon, grilled flank steak, or grilled chicken. Bonus: it keeps well and can be made ahead of time!

What You’ll Need To Make Kale & Brussels Sprouts Salad

kale and brussels sprouts salad ingredients

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by toasting the walnuts in a 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes, or until fragrant.

walnuts on baking sheet

Meanwhile, slice the Brussels sprouts. You can do this by hand or using the slicing blade of the food processor.

shaved brussels sprouts in food processor

Remove the kale leaves from the tough center ribs.

kale leaves on cutting board

Then thinly slice.

Sliced kale on a wooden cutting board.

Make the dressing by whisking together the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, shallots, garlic, salt, and pepper.

whisking dressing for kale and brussels sprouts salad

Pour the dressing over the greens and toss.

Bowl of tossed salad.

Add the toasted walnuts and Parmgiano-Reggiano.

adding the walnuts and cheese

Toss to combine, then let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours to allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with more walnuts and cheese.

Forks on a plate of kale and brussels sprout salad with walnuts, parmesan, and lemon-mustard dressing.

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Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad with Walnuts, Parmesan & Lemon-Mustard Dressing

Be prepared to love this salad of crisp greens, walnuts and lemony Dijon dressing. It tastes like a healthful, crunchy Caesar.

Servings: 6 to 8

Ingredients

For the Salad

  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped, plus more for serving
  • 12 oz Brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded (about 5 gently packed cups after shredding)
  • 1 large bunch (about 12 oz) Tuscan or curly kale, thick center ribs removed, thinly sliced (about 5 gently packed cups after slicing)
  • 1 cup coarsely grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving

For the Dressing

  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, from about 2 lemons
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots, from one large shallot
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up. Bake the walnuts for 5 to 8 minutes, until toasted and fragrant. Keep a close eye on them; they burn quickly.
  2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, oil, mustard, shallot, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  3. Assemble the salad: Combine the Brussels sprouts and kale in a large bowl, and pour the dressing over top. Toss to combine. Add the most of the walnuts and cheese and toss again. Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours in the fridge) to allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle more walnuts and cheese over top, if you like. Serve at room temperature.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (8 servings)
  • Calories: 256
  • Fat: 20g
  • Saturated fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 13g
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 10g
  • Sodium: 432mg
  • Cholesterol: 10mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.

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Comments

  • This is the first recipe of yours that I would not repeat. Maybe I had too much kale. I can’t remember if I weighed it but it didn’t seem to have enough flavor for my taste. Guessing it was operator error since your recipes are always spot on and there are a lot of high ratings for this one.

    • — Ann on October 6, 2024
    • Reply
    • Why give three stars if you assume operator error? Give it a second try, measure your ingredients, then rate it. Or don’t rate it if you think you made a mistake…???

      • — Lawrence J Schwarz on October 20, 2024
      • Reply
  • I made this last night – so healthy and delicious! A definite crowd pleaser. Your recipes are my go-to’s now, thank you!

    • — Julie N on September 1, 2024
    • Reply

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