Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Toasted Almonds

This highly customizable recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts salad is simple yet full of flavor and texture with several options for add-ins.

This side dish is the perfect accompaniment to any main dish, whether it’s for the holidays or just a random weeknight. It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan making it a great option for all.

Roasting Brussels Sprouts vs Other Cooking Methods

Brussels sprouts are a part of the cruciferous family along with broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and kohlrabi.

When it comes to Brussels sprouts and most vegetables in the cruciferous family, how you prepare and cook them really makes ALL the difference!

(No boiled Brussels sprouts here.)

Ingredients

• avocado oil
• brussels sprouts
• salt & pepper
• slivered almonds
• homemade poppyseed dressing

Cutting & Trimming the Brussels Sprouts

Trim off the knobby ends and cut in half or quarters depending on the size of your Brussels sprouts. Keep in mind that if they’re too big, they’re hard for people to eat.

Peel away any brown or disheveled-looking leaves and discard them.

Some leaves will naturally fall off when you cut them in half, but feel free to add them to your pan with the cut Brussels sprouts. These leaves crisp up nicely in the oven and add some crunchy elements to your salad.

How to Make Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

1. Trim off the ends of the Brussels sprouts and cut or quarter them.

2. On a large baking sheet, toss them with oil, salt, and pepper, and roast for 20-30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

3. While the Brussels sprouts are roasting, toast the slivered almonds in a dry pan over medium-low heat for about 3-4 minutes, watching carefully so they don’t burn, stirring occasionally. Once golden brown set aside.

4. Make the poppyseed dressing.

5. Remove the Brussels sprouts from the oven once they’re browned to your liking and add to a serving plate, toss with the toasted nuts, dressing, and serve.

Make It Your Way: Ingredient Substitutions

Please remember that recipes are meant to be used as guides.

How can you make this roasted Brussels sprouts salad using what you already have? Here are some ideas…

• No almonds? ➝ use cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans
• Nut-free? ➝ pumpkin or sunflower seeds
• No nuts or seeds? ➝ add pomegranate arils (these will add a burst of sweetness with each bite as well as a pop of ruby red color).
• No poppyseed dressing? ➝ use another type of homemade vinaigrette
• Bulk it up with these optional add-ins:
  • leafy greens of choice (spring mix or thinly sliced curly kale work nicely here)
  • crispy bacon or prosciutto bits
  • dried cranberries
  • grains such as wild rice or farro
  • apple or celery slices
  • parmesan or feta (Violife is a dairy-free brand that makes both varieties)

Helpful Recipe Tips

While you can eat Brussels sprouts raw, roasting them makes them much easier to digest.

Are your Brussels sprouts are the larger side?

If your Brussels sprouts are pretty big, you’ll want to cut them into quarters. If some are large and some are small, only quarter the large ones and half the smaller ones. This will help them cook more evenly and also be easier to eat.

To quarter, cut them through the center core, this will help hold the pieces together better.

Flipping halfway through

If you forget to flip/stir halfway through, it’s not a big deal, they’ll just be browned more on one side but still delicious.

Other Healthy Fall Recipes to Try

• Sweet and Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
• Healthy Cranberry Sauce
• Simple Baked Apples
• Persimmon Salsa