Low Sugar Pesto-Walnut Kale and Brussels Sprout Slaw
This slaw is a serious upgrade from anything limp and mayo-drenched — it's bold, bright, and packed with texture from shaved Brussels sprouts and ribbons of lacinato kale. The real star is the homemade pesto dressing, blitzed together with fresh basil, Parmesan, garlic, lemon, and walnuts, then drizzled in with olive oil until it's silky and emulsified. Every single ingredient in this recipe is naturally free of added sugar, so there's no label-reading required and no sneaky sweeteners hiding in a bottled dressing. Massaging the greens for just a minute softens them enough to make the whole thing pleasantly tender without losing that satisfying crunch. The walnuts pull double duty — half go into the dressing for body and richness, and the rest get scattered on top for a toasty, nutty finish. A little red pepper flake and extra shaved Parmesan at the end take it from simple side dish to something you'd genuinely want to bring to a dinner party. It holds up well in the fridge, making it a smart option for meal prep or next-day lunches.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 8 oz brussels sprouts, tough outer leaves removed, very thinly sliced
- 4 cups lacinato kale, stems removed, very thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the pesto dressing
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ½ cup dry-roasted walnuts, divided
- 1 oz parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Using a box grater, mandoline, or sharp chef's knife, shred the Brussels sprouts as thinly as possible — aim for paper-thin slices. Stack the kale leaves, roll them tightly, and slice into thin ribbons. Combine both in a large mixing bowl.
- 2
In a food processor, combine the basil, ¼ cup of the walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper. Pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and uniform.
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