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.
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
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by toasting the walnuts in a 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes, or until fragrant.
Meanwhile, slice the Brussels sprouts. You can do this by hand or using the slicing blade of the food processor.
Remove the kale leaves from the tough center ribs.
Then thinly slice.
Make the dressing by whisking together the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, shallots, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the greens and toss.
Add the toasted walnuts and Parmgiano-Reggiano.
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.
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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.
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
- 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.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, oil, mustard, shallot, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- 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
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- 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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I’ve made this twice in the last week – it’s a great fall/winter salad for those who like to use local/seasonal ingredients. The leftovers keep well for 1-2 days which is great. I added shredded carrots to mine last time. In the future I’ll definitely try some other variations, using different nuts and shaved root vegetables like beets and maybe fennel bulb.
I tried the Kale & Brussels spouts salad awhile back but wanted to let you know how much we loved it. It definitely scored a place in my favorites notebook! I had never eaten raw Brussels sprouts until this recipe & tried it with reservations. I loved it & already was enthralled with kale. Loved the crunch fator that th walnut added. The lemon mustard drsg was so right on. Not a fn of too sweet drsgs and this one was spicy & tangy without being pucker worthy. Thanks for sharing the salad.
this tasty salad has turned into a weekly staple that surprises everyone by its ingredients, how well it holds up and how addictive it is! Cheers!!!
Do you have any ideas to substitute for the parmesan for my “no dairy, no soy, no gluten, no wheat” eating son? Thanks!
Hi Amy, I don’t know of any good substitute for Parmesan, but you could always add more nuts instead of the cheese.
Go Veggie! brand grated parmesan in a shaker has been my vegetarian cheese alternative for years now
Have you tried Daiya? Cheese that contains no soy, dairy, gluten or wheat.
As a substitute for Parmesan you could use Nutritional Yeast. It tastes just like parmesan. I also use it in Pesto.
Does this salad get soggy or lose its texture
if left in the refrigerator for six hours?
Hi Diane, It actually keeps very well; it will be fine.
This recipe is UN-BE-Lievable!!!! So delicious. I’m hooked and so is my husband, who doesn’t usually eat anything green. Thank you so much!!!
Wow made this for dinner last night and everyone loved it. Even the kids who supposedly don’t eat brussel sprouts!
What would you recommend as a substitute for the walnuts? Sliced almonds, maybe? I’m just not a fan of walnut flavor. Thank you for any suggestions!
Hi Erika, Yes, almonds would be delicious.
I served this for Passover seder – delicious! Thank you!
Wow. I could live on this salad! I used bagged kale and shaved Parmesan to save a little prep time. Also threw in a handful of craisins. I can’t tell you how wonderful it turned out. Made a day ahead.