Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw is the ultimate upgrade from your standard coleslaw made with cabbage. Coleslaw made from cabbage is like apple pie and baseball. It’s considered to be the all-American salad.
Nothing says summer like a side of coleslaw to go along with your favorite burger while hanging out with friends and family during a summer cookout. Believe me, I love eating creamy coleslaw, especially on a hot summer day. However, shaved Brussels sprouts are the ultimate upgrade in a gourmet salad.
Is It Coleslaw or Is It Salad?
Well, the definition for coleslaw is shredded raw cabbage with other vegetables, mixed with mayonnaise, and eaten as a salad. Sometimes the slaw is referred to as salad.
A salad can be a single or mixture of vegetables, fruits, combined with cold, pickled, or hot ingredients made up of meats, potatoes, pasta, seeds, or nuts. Some salads are dressed with mayonnaise or vinegar.
By definition this simple delicious dish can be referred to as either coleslaw or salad. For the purpose of this blog, I will continue to refer to this dish as a coleslaw.
Not a fan of Brussels sprouts? Well, neither was I, not until I tried the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Coleslaw With A Citrus Vinaigrette. I happen to love raw vegetables. When the Brussel sprouts are thinly sliced the shaved vegetable has a rich fresh flavor. If you love raw vegetables as I do, you too will become a fan as well. Think of a healthy salad filled with a huge crunch and bold flavor provided by a wonderful citrus sweet-tart vinaigrette.
I stumbled on this salad by accident. It started with me looking for a salad to make for lunch. Well, what do you know? There was a bag of Brussels sprouts tucked in the back of the vegetable bin begging to become a meal. My thoughts were to shred the Brussels sprouts to make a hardy slaw, just for me. However, I could see this dish being served with Seared Salmon, Grilled Mahi Mahi, or as a side dish to go along with Turkey Tetrazzini. It’s a hardy coleslaw that has so many possibilities to contribute to a meal.
Healthy Benefits for Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw
Brussels Sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin C as well as many other immune-boosting nutrients. Not only is Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw with a Citrus Vinaigrette delicious it also fuels your body with wonderful nutrients. For example, it’s:
- High in fiber which supports colon health.
- Help prevent DNA damage when eaten regularly which reduces the spread of cancer.
- It has been known to lower the “bad cholesterol” which can clog the arteries that might lead to heart attack or stroke.
Coleslaw Preparation
Use a sharp knife to carefully slice the Brussels sprouts into thin strips. Sturdy vegetables such as kale, Swiss chard, and collards would also make a delicious raw coleslaw.
My knife skills aren’t that great so I like using my kitchen gadgets such as 1.mandoline 2. Saladmaster shredder or 3. food processor. You could also use a grater which can be found in most kitchens. Of course, it is imperative that care is taken when using any of these devices because they can be quite sharp.
Use the device you feel most comfortable using. However, if you don’t own any of these devices or you like the convenience of prepared foods, by all means, purchase a bag of shredded Brussel sprouts. It cuts down on your prep time and you could be eating in less than 15 minutes. If you are using this as a main salad it can be quite filling. Serve it along with some wonderful bread, and you’ll have a meal in itself.
The coleslaw is made with four simple ingredients, shredded Brussels sprouts, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, and a citrus vinaigrette (or your favorite dressing).
Ingredients Needed for The Vinaigrette
- orange juice
- orange zest
- ginger
- rice vinegar
- soy sauce
- Dijon mustard
- sugar
- salt
- hot pepper flakes
- olive oil
The vinaigrette has a tart-sweet citrus flavor which brings its own distinct element to the slaw. I love the bright bold flavor of this vinaigrette. It’s like capturing orange blossoms in a bottle.
The vinaigrette only requires a few ingredients as it comes together in minutes. However, if you really want the full-blown flavor of this dressing make it the day before. As time allows the flavor to develop and blossom. Now if you are not a fan of spicy dressings then omit the pepper flakes from the recipe. I like a little heat with this dish.
Make This Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw Your Own
Make this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw with A Citrus Vinaigrette your own. If you don’t have almonds use the nuts or seeds you might have on hand of course, you might omit them altogether if you like. Try adding other vegetables such as shredded carrots, or broccoli which might also contribute another added dimension to the slaw. Go ahead and try this versatile coleslaw and let me know what you think. Leave a comment below, or a note on my Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter feed. I would love to hear from you.
Subscribe to The Crafty Boomer and never miss another post!
- 3 cups thinly sliced Brussels sprouts
- ½ cup cranberries
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- 3 tbsp. rice vinegar
- ¼ tsp. grated ginger
- 3 tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp. course ground pepper
- ½ tsp. hot pepper flakes
- ½ cup Olive oil
- Whisk together orange juice, orange peel, ginger, rice vinegar, soy sauce, dijon mustard, sugar, pepper, salt, and hot pepper flakes in a large bowl until combined.
- Slowly drizzle in the oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly, until the dressing is fully emulsified and smooth. Add more or less spices as needed.
- In a salad bowl, toss the shaved Brussels sprouts slaw, cranberries, and almonds; gently toss to combine.
- Drizzle the vinaigrette over the Brussels sprouts and toss thoroughly, and serve.
