Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad

Name: Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 Pound Brussels Sprouts (peeled and thinly sliced); 1 Small Head Kale (de-stemmed and finely chopped); 3/4 Cup Dried Cranberries; 3/4 Cup Roughly Chopped Walnuts; 3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup; 3 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard; 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar; 1 Tablespoon Water; ½ Teaspoon Salt; ¼ Teaspoon Pepper

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad is an easy holiday side dish. This fall dish is ready in just 15 minutes!

A platter of Vegan Brussels Sprouts Salad, with serving utensils, ready to serve.

Sneak some extra veggies onto your holiday menu with this kale Brussels sprouts salad.

This salad is almost like a slaw. Kale and brussels sprouts are more hearty than more traditional salad greens.

But the dressing is more like a vinaigrette, so the dish is a bit lighter. Perfect for getting in some veggies alongside your holiday feast.

And with juicy cranberries and crunchy walnuts bursting in for flavor, you'll be reaching for seconds of this salad while you're grabbing more cornbread and mashed potatoes.

Jump to:

Why I love this Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
How to make Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad
FAQ & Expert Tips
Recipe Prayer
More holiday sides
Tried this recipe?
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

A platter of Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad, with serving utensils, ready to serve.

Why I love this Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad

Dietary needs - this recipe is dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, and sugar-free
Simple but flavorful - there are only a few ingredients in this salad, but it's still packed with flavor
Naturally gluten-free - there's no grain in this recipe, so there's no ingredient that contains gluten
Delicious side dish - this salad is full of fall ingredients and flavors
Really easy - just mix the dressing and toss
Vegetables for the holidays - if you're looking for a tasty way to add veggies to your holiday table, this recipe is it

A close up view of the textures in vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Brussels Sprouts: I recommend buying whole Brussels sprouts and slicing them - you can use a food processor or mandoline to speed up the process. Buying whole sprouts will result in the freshest flavor!
Kale: use kale on the stems, not baby kale
Dried Cranberries: look for low- or no-sugar cranberries. Other dried fruits like cherries or blueberries would also be delicious
Walnuts: feel free to sub pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts

Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad - salad ingredients

Dressing

Maple Syrup: maple syrup adds some sweetness to the dressing. For a completely fruit-sweetened dressing, you can use date syrup instead
Dijon Mustard: a vinaigrette staple ingredient. Dijon has the best flavor for a dressing like this - I don't recommend using yellow mustard
Apple Cider Vinegar: acid helps create a nice tangy flavor. You could sub lemon juice
Water: instead of oil as the base for the dressing, we'll use water. We won't use it in the same proportion as you might in a regular vinaigrette - the water just helps get the right consistency and balance of flavors
Salt & Pepper

How to make Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Salad

Step 1. In a small bowl whisk the dressing ingredients until combined.

Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad step 1 - whisk the dressing.

Step 2. In a large bowl toss the salad ingredients with the dressing. If desired, massage the kale slightly to soften. Enjoy!

Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad step 2 - toss all the salad ingredients with the dressing

FAQ & Expert Tips

Massage the kale

Kale will soften slightly if massaged for a few minutes. This is optional but can help the texture be less harsh.

Make it nut free.

Omit the walnuts and use pepitas or sunflower seeds instead.

Switch up the flavors.

Swap cranberries for another dried fruit like blueberries or cherries. Swap walnuts for pecans or almonds. Make the salad with all Brussels sprouts. The possibilities are endless!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It's okay to store this salad after it has been dressed - kale and sprouts are hearty vegetables and won't break down like other greens.

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for this healthy fall salad. Help it to nourish our bodies. Amen.

A platter of Vegan Kale Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad.

More holiday sides

Tried this recipe?

Please leave a review in the comments section below and post on Instagram tagging me @elizabeths_table. You can also stay in touch with me on social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok or by subscribing to my newsletter.

📖 Recipe