Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Jackie and I are big fans of Brussels Sprouts, the very same ones that we couldn't force ourselves to eat as children in Ohio. But then again, how many kids growing up in the 70’s & 80’s would eat this vegetable? Brussels Sprouts were a dirty word back then, but now it’s a whole different world. My kids love them; they are easily one of our family’s favorites.Brussels Sprouts are on every restaurant menu: roasted alone or combined with sweet and savory toppings (we are particularly fond of Apple Cider Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Broiled Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Sprouts). I believe what makes this vegetable contemporary and popular is that they are being prepared in many new ways (not just boiling the crap out of them until they turn to mush like our parents did). This Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is an example of one modern way to serve an old familiar vegetable.This time of year is the perfect time for a Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad. We eat them so often as a side dish, but we forget that the make a great, crunchy and flavorful salad as well. It is difficult to find fresh, local greens at the market, so using more hearty types of root vegetables, broccoli and cauliflower becomes a better option. We like this crisp, seasonal salad as a side dish to pizza while watching sports.
This salad is right on point, because the heartiness of the sprouts holds in the fresh, seasonal citrus vinaigrette beautifully. The sweet dressing perfectly balances the bitter crunch of the sprout. We also like the sweet texture of the pomegranate and nuts. Jackie was the true inspiration for this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, as she is always challenging me to come up with new salad flavors. This one did not disappoint. We actually found ourselves eating more salad than pizza during this meal; when does that ever happen? Enjoy!!