Skip to main content

Brussels Sprouts, Cranberry and Bulgur Salad

You'll please everyone with this delicious salad. It's quick to make for a holiday meal or a healthy lunch.
Dishes of salad featuring Brussels sprouts, dried cranberries and nuts mixed with a citrus dressing.
Prep time: 45 minutes
Makes: 5 Cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

⅓ cup dried bulgur
1 cup boiling water
½ pound Brussels sprouts (2 cups)
½ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chopped nuts (any type)
¼ cup orange juice
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons vinegar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. Cover bulgur with boiling water and let stand until soft, about 30 minutes.  Pour off any excess water.
  4. Rinse and trim Brussels sprouts.  Cut in half lengthwise then slice crosswise into thin strips.
  5. In a large bowl combine bulgur, Brussels sprouts, cranberries and nuts.
  6. In a small bowl or jar with a lid, combine orange juice, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix or shake well. Pour dressing over salad and serve.
  7. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • No nuts? Use sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
  • No dried cranberries? Use any type of dried fruit.

Comments

This is really great with quinoa in case of gluten-intolerance. Otherwise, I recommend blanching the Brussels sprouts for one minute in a pot of boiling water after shredding them. This helps with the digestibility issues of raw brassicas, and is still nice and fresh-tasting. If you have a micro-zester, adding in a little orange zest to the dressing amps up the flavor of the finished salad to another level. We made this recipe as a recent cook-along, and it was very popular and really surprised participants at the flavor and simplicity!

We did a few cafeteria tastings with this recipe last week. I made a small batch for myself with brown rice due to a gluten issue, and it was really tasty. To my surprise, the elementary students also really liked the recipe. I had a few suggest using apples in it for some extra crunch, which I agree would be really good. We used sunflower seeds to avoid any nut allergies, but I think with walnuts, it would be even better.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Overnight Oats for One
Ceramic bowl with creamy oatmeal topped with raspberries and blueberries.

Overnight Oats for One

Quick and easy make-ahead breakfast recipe for one person. Change it up with your favorite yogurt and fruit.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
1 serving
Eggplant Omelet (Tortang Talong)
Plate of pan-fried eggplant omelet served with rice.

Eggplant Omelet (Tortang Talong)

A delicious Filipino dish of baked eggplant dipped in egg and cooked in a skillet. Try it for any meal!
Prepare:
20 to 30 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 servings
Barley Lentil Soup
Bowls of soup containing colorful vegetables, lentils and barley.

Barley Lentil Soup

One-pot hearty lentil soup that’s packed with veggies, herbs and grains!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
1 and ½ hours
Makes:
10 cups
Dry-Roasted Garbanzo Beans
Bowl filled to the brim with baked and seasoned garbanzo beans.

Dry-Roasted Garbanzo Beans

Enjoy these protein and fiber-filled garbanzo beans as a snack, or add them to your favorite dishes for crispy texture.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Vegetables and Turkey Stir-Fry
Plate of rice with a turkey and vegetable topping.

Vegetables and Turkey Stir-Fry

Quick and easy turkey meal with garlic, ginger and whole grain noodles.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Turkey Ginger Rice Lettuce Wraps
Plate of lettuce boats filled with a turkey and carrot mix.

Turkey Ginger Rice Lettuce Wraps

Fresh and filling meal with a warm blend of rice, vegetables and a savory sauce.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
6 cups