Pistachio Free Basil-Pesto Brussels Sprout Salad
Shaved Brussels sprouts tossed in a vibrant, homemade basil pesto is the kind of salad that makes people go back for seconds before they've even finished their first plate. The sprouts are sliced paper-thin so they soak up every bit of that bright, garlicky dressing, while dried cranberries add little pops of sweetness and red onion brings a welcome sharpness to the mix. Store-bought pesto is one of those products that can quietly contain tree nuts, so blending your own from scratch with basil, lemon, garlic, and olive oil is both the safer and genuinely tastier move here. A touch of ground ginger in the pesto is a small but clever addition that lifts the whole flavor profile in a way you won't see coming. The salad only gets better after a short rest at room temperature, giving the shredded sprouts time to soften just enough without losing their satisfying bite. It comes together quickly with a food processor doing most of the heavy lifting, making it an easy win for weeknight dinners or a crowd-pleasing dish to bring to a gathering.
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Learn more →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
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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