Citric Acid Free Basil-Pesto Brussels Sprout Salad

Total time30 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time0 min

Citric Acid Free Basil-Pesto Brussels Sprout Salad

Shaved raw Brussels sprouts make a surprisingly tender, nutty base for a salad that feels both fresh and deeply satisfying. The homemade pesto here is blended entirely from scratch — fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and a touch of ginger — so you know exactly what's going into it, with no store-bought shortcuts that might sneak in unwanted additives. That bright lemon-forward dressing does double duty, softening the sprout shreds as they rest while coating every layer with herby, garlicky flavor. The dried cranberries add little bursts of sweetness that play beautifully against the savory pesto, and the paper-thin red onion brings just enough bite to keep things interesting. A short ten-minute rest at room temperature is all it takes for the salad to come together into something that tastes like it took far more effort than it did. It holds up well in the fridge overnight, making it a smart option for meal prep or a make-ahead side that still looks gorgeous on the table.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the salad

1 ½ lb brussels sprouts, tough outer leaves removed, ends trimmed
¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
¼ cup dried cranberries, unsweetened or honey-sweetened
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For the pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
2 cloves garlic, peeled
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
1 tsp lemon zest
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
¼ tsp ground ginger

For serving

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, for finishing (optional)
2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)

Instructions

1
Shave the Brussels sprouts: working in batches, halve each sprout through the root end, then place cut-side down and slice crosswise as thinly as possible with a chef's knife, or use the slicing disc of a food processor. Transfer the shaved sprouts to a large mixing bowl.
2
Add the thinly sliced red onion and dried cranberries to the bowl with the shaved sprouts and toss to combine.

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