Description
Festive Christmas salad with roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberries, pecans, goat cheese, bacon, and balsamic vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, cored and diced
- Optional: Pomegranate seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare Brussels sprouts: Wash, trim, and halve (or quarter if large) Brussels sprouts.
- Toss with oil and seasoning: In a bowl, toss Brussels sprouts with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
- Roast Brussels sprouts: Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and browned. Let cool slightly.
- Cook bacon: Cook bacon using your preferred method (skillet, oven, or microwave) until crispy.
- Drain bacon: Drain excess grease on paper towels.
- Crumble bacon: Crumble the cooled bacon into small pieces.
- Make balsamic vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard.
- Add olive oil to vinaigrette: Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly.
- Taste and adjust vinaigrette: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussels sprouts, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, crumbled goat cheese, shaved Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, thinly sliced red onion, and diced Honeycrisp apple.
- Drizzle with vinaigrette: Pour balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Garnish (optional): Garnish with pomegranate seeds, if desired.
- Serve: Serve immediately or chill for later (add vinaigrette just before serving if chilling).
Notes
- Add protein: Grilled chicken, roasted turkey, or chickpeas.
- Use different nuts: Walnuts, almonds, or pistachios.
- Try different cheeses: Feta, blue cheese, or ricotta salata.
- Add other fruits: Pears, oranges, or grapes.
- Make it vegan: Omit bacon and goat cheese, use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Adjust sweetness: Reduce maple syrup in vinaigrette.
- Make ahead: Roast Brussels sprouts and prepare vinaigrette ahead of time. Store separately.
- Don’t overcrowd pan: Use two baking sheets if needed.
- Use fresh ingredients: For best flavor.
- Taste and adjust: Experiment with flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes