Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Creamy Maple Dressing
- Total Time: 12 mins
- Yield: 6
Description
This salad makes use of crunchy, nearly-raw brussels sprouts in addition to kale for a winter salad full of fresh flavors.
Ingredients
Salad
- a bunch of kale, stems removed, thinly sliced
- 15 Brussels sprouts
- handful of dried cranberries
- pinch sea salt
Dressing
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) oil
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) creme fraiche or heavy cream
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sherry vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Instructions
Salad
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil and blanch the Brussels sprouts for one minute.
- Transfer them to ice cold water. Pick as much leaves of the Brussels sprouts as you can, and thin slice the rest.
- In a large salad bowl, mix the kale, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, salt, and the dressing.
Dressing
- Mix all ingredients in a jar.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 2 mins
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
- Spring Asparagus and Fava Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
- Lemony Chickpea Salad with Spring Onions and Harissa Mustard Dressing
- Spring Salad Dressing
- Strawberry and Kale Spring Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the Brussels sprouts only blanch for one minute?
I keep these nearly raw — the one-minute blanch in boiling water just barely takes the raw edge off the outer leaves. They go straight into ice cold water to stop cooking, then I peel off as many leaves as possible and thinly slice the rest, keeping them crunchy for the salad.
What makes this dressing unusual compared to a standard vinaigrette?
The dressing combines three different fat and acid sources: 3 tbsp neutral oil, 1 tsp sesame oil (for nuttiness), 1 tbsp sherry vinegar (for acidity), 1 tbsp creme fraiche or heavy cream (for creaminess), and 1 tbsp maple syrup (for sweetness). Shaking it all in a jar emulsifies it into a creamy, sweet-tangy dressing that isn’t standard for either a kale salad or a Brussels sprouts slaw.
