I left my house. Small miracle.
I wore a cute dress. Purely accidental.
I left my house with salad in my car to have dinner with food blog friends. There was gin. Win.
Dinner with food blog friends includes laughs, several layers of flatware, boiling pots, large bowls to toss salads, lemon zest, wine… lots of wine, cameras… lots of cameras, and full bellies. So freaking full.
Andy, Nathan, Greg, Melba and Kim were the reason I shredded raw Brussels sprouts, put on a dress, and left my house. The dinner theme: Inspiration.
Twinkles. Sparkles. Smiles. Doves flying over head… you get the idea.
My salad was the first of three glorious courses. My inspiration: Andy’s big, green blog.
If you don’t know Andy’s blog… it’s full of surprises. He has a knack for seasonal food, with a twist.
I thought a raw Brussels Sprout Salad with tropical fruit, roasted nuts and a Pineapple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette, was just weirdo enough to live up to Andy’s work.
You should also know that I use fresh pineapple. Canned pineapple would probably do, but there is something special about the bold brightness of fresh pineapple. They sell fresh pineapple pre-sliced at my grocery store. I totally splurged on that rather than fighting to slice a whole pineapple. Sometimes I splurge.
Can I just pat myself on the back and tell you how crazy delicious this salad is?
So super yummy and unexpected.
Raw Brussels sprouts are sliced into delicate ribbons and tossed with first-of-the-season pineapple, olive oil roasted macadamia nuts, earthy French lentils, and creamy avocado. Scallions and fresh parsley are just a bonus.
I tossed the entire salad with a bright, tangy pineapple vinaigrette made from fresh pineapple, rice wine vinegar, honey and poppy seeds. The pineapple is all up in your face and suuuuper delicious.
Now! This salad is super versatile. Think of the directions and ingredients below as suggestions.
Make this salad with Romaine lettuce. Substitute brown lentils or black beans. Add lime juice and zest to the vinaigrette. Really… if it sounds delicious in your brain, you can probably make it delicious in this salad.
For more fancy food blog dinner party shots and links soon. Stay tuned.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pineapple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Makes: 12 small or 6 large servings… yea, big salad
8 cups raw Brussels sprouts ribbons (lay sprouts on their sides and sliced thin, creating green ribbons)
1/2 cup scallions, sliced from the white to the green
1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
2 cups fresh pineapple chunks, sliced bite size
1 cup French Lentils, cooked
1 cup raw macadamia nuts, roasted in olive oil, salt, and pepper
1 cup avocado chunks
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Toss raw macadamia nuts in 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt and pepper and roast for 12 to 14 minutes, until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Simmer one cup of French lentils in 3 cups of water. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, until just cooked through. Drain completely, drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper and set aside to cool completely.
Slice pineapple into bite size chunks
Prepare salad dressing.
Slice avocado.
Just before serving the salad, toss together Brussels sprouts, scallions, parsley, pineapple, lentils, macadamia nuts and avocado chunks. Drizzle in dressing and toss well. Serve immediately.
Pineapple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Makes: 2 cups
1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoons chopped scallions (the white portion)
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
salt and pepper to taste
Place fresh pineapple chunks in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Blend pineapple into a mostly smooth, frothy pulp. Place a fine mesh strainer over a medium bowl and press the pineapple puree through the strainer into the bowl. Scrape the bottom of the fine mesh strainer to get all the good bits. There will be just a bit of pineapple pulp in the fine mesh strainer when you’re done. You’ll have about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of juice/pulp.
In the the bowl of the food processor, combine juice/pump, honey, rice wine vinegar, scallions, garlic, and mustard. Pulse 5 times to incorporate. With the food processor on, slowly stream in the canola oil. Stop the food processor once the dressing is emulsified. Pour the dressing into a medium bowl and stir in poppy seeds, salt and pepper.
Salad dressing should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Leah
I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m starting to like brussel sprouts. Looks awesome.
D
I made this with my bf and we really loved it! The only problem is that it’s HUGE so I’d suggest halving it unless it’s for a party!
joythebaker
it’s a big big recipe!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles
This looks so fresh and yummy! I never would have thought to use shaved brussels sprouts as a leafy salad base!
Annalea
I’m sharing this salad with my husband and my girlfriend as I type. Joy…you’re a genius and you’re so right about the possibilities for variation on this salad. I used baby romaine and added fresh mint leaves. Can pineapple worked (though I do think fresh would be better). No lentils but I topped it off with sliced grilled chicken. Super yum!!! You take such good care of us lady!
Jessica @ bake me away!
I didn’t know I liked brussels sprouts until I tried the BS salad that Tracy posted awhile ago, which was also raw. Who would have thought! I’m crazy about fresh pineapple, so this sounds awesome.
It feels like there is something in the water in California that creates food bloggers. So many of you are there!
Jessica
I made this using blackberries for the dressing and raspberries on the salad (because I didn’t have any pineapples. DELICIOUS! You can really vary the ingredients based on what you have in your cupboard and it will still taste amazing! Thanks for a new way to eat my most favorite vegetable :)
Gina
This looks amazing. I will be making this as soon as I can get some fresh brussels sprouts
Jennifer (The Gourmetour)
Wow, this looks amazing. I really love brussel sprouts, but I’ve never tried them shaved like this, I will most definitely give this a whirl next time!
Thanks!
Jules Bea
nice work Joy! …the enzyme bromelain that is found in fresh pineapple will help ‘soften’ the ‘cruciferousness’ of the sprouts – bromelain is not found in canned pineapple as the canning process kills it dead …thus – great to use fresh pine if serving soon-ish …but better to use the canned if one is pre-making. yumm yummm! :)
joythebaker
sounds like science. i approve.
Bridget
First, let me thank you for not putting capers on this salad. That’s what I thought the lentils were when I saw the picture. Cuz ya know, I was all with you on the craziness. But capers, no, that would have been too much.
Second, I want to make a raw Brussels sprouts salad if for no other reason than to see those pretty little green ribbons. Lovely.
Patricia Calef
I wonder what it would taste like with the brussel sprouts roasted and then shredded? Think I have to find out.
Maris (In Good Taste)
I have developed a real affinity for brussel sprouts and this recipe looks great. It is so wonderful when we are able to enjoy the company of other bloggers.
thebakingaddict
I don’t like brussels sprouts but your salad looks very tempting, I may even be tempted to have a bite or two :) perfect for spring/summer.
Naomi @ Onefitfoodie
that looks amazing! i love new twists on a boring ole veggie like brussels sprouts! definately a keeper!
Kat
Your blog might just be my very favorite food blog ever. And I read a lot of food blogs. Here’s to gin, brussel sprouts, and dinner parties!
noni
What a treat! that would be so much fun! Anyone in Utah,lol?!
Tia
Looks so good!
You inspire me, Joy, and remind me that my love affair with food isn’t a bad thing =)
Anna
Oh my, yummmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!
andrea cammarata
the salad looks SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!! i mean really — those ingredients are a WIN WIN WIN WIN!!!!!
this is going to be on the weekend menu for sure. looks like you all had an absolutely fabulous time. take care now and thank you for bringing us these yummy creations you can surely tell they come from the heart!
Jenny
That looks AMAZING!!! And it includes 4 of my favorite things ever: brussel sprouts, pineapple, avocado and macadamias! Perfection on a plate – – I’ll definitely be trying this soon!
Sarah Lee
Um….YUM! Hello, this sounds crazy delicious, and one of my best friends and I have roasted brussels sprout parties and watch girly movies, this salad just might have to be our next movie night treat! :)
Vicki B
Wow Joy, very impressive salad!
Emily Langston
Holy Can-ole! I love Brussel Sprouts and I AM making this, but I think I might put balsamic on it instead of the pineapple poppy seed… I love the sweet and salty-ness of fruit and vinegary balsamic!
peachkins
you just talked me into making this!
claire
Do you think a good sub for honey would be agave? That would make the salad 100% raw AND vegan, it is not vegan with honey involved. That would be a nice addendum to the recipe!
joythebaker
agave! absolutely! raw. vegan. awesome!
Rose
Can’t wait to try this since I’ve never been lucky enough to discover a good recipe for cooked brussel sprouts. Thanks for being adventurous. What made you pair pineapple with the sprouts? Does the acid in the pineapple tone down the taste of raw brussel sprouts?
Emily Langston
If you really love Brussel Sprouts, then try them cooked with either Balsamic Vinaigrette OR Kraft makes a Tuscan House Dressing and then top with Parmesan Cheese! Do die for!
Anna
wow, this is ALMOST enough to make me want to eat brussels sprouts! it is definitely enough to make me wish i had food bloggy friends who threw fancy pants parties! where do you come by those anyway? lovely, lovely. thanks for the pics and recipe!
Stephanie
The one vegetable I really don’t like and you go and make it look and sound incredibly delicious!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
Looks like a fun dinner!
This is the most interesting combination of ingredients I have ever seen! Each ingredient here is tasty on its own so I bet they do taste great together!
Julie
Great idea! I need to do same. Soon.
caroleena
YUM!! *sigh* YUM!
Ann Claire
I just came across your blog and I’m so glad I did. This salad looks incredible! I’d never heard of raw shredded Brussels sprouts, such a wonderful idea!
Clara
This salad is truly inspirational! I love combination of flavors, the pineapple and macadamia nuts are so fun. I’m not a huge fan of brussels sprouts but you’ve inspired me to try them again with this salad.
Jessica
Joy – I have been reading your blog for a while and I love it. This salad sounds amazing. So does a martini!
Stephanie Rose
I checked out your friends food blogs, and I have to say this food blogging inspiration partying is inspirational in itself. What a life! cook. bake. take pictures. eat food. and blog all with friends. Now that’s the life.
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
This salad sounds AMAZING! I love the combination of different flavors and textures. YUM!
Sarah-Anne
salad ROCKS.
just saying.
Nicole
I love how the colors of the salad melt into the colorful plate. Beautiful!
Steven H. Dringus, Esq.
This salad is like lulling your taste buds to sleep on 1,500 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, then dreaming about back rubs from a Pegasus.
For your dreams!
Jesse
such an unexpected list of ingredients — and i like all of them! now time to put them all together:)
The Teenage Taste
I bet that dinner party was amazing! It’s always fun to meet up and dine with food bloggers – the food is bound to be delicious! :-)
Shawn
I just have to comment on what a beautiful table that is!
zingara
mmmmmm, cole slaw, w/ benefits!
Susan (Oliepants)
Love the salad. The pineapple dressing with the crisp brussels sprouts would be awesome!
Leslie
Don’t get me wrong, I love the savory dishes you have been posting and would consume them in a heartbeat.
but please– for the love of baking–
BAKE COOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cha cha
Agree with Leslie! Bake, bake! I’ve made several recipes from your site now and I find the recipes for baking turn out much better for me than the salty recipes (for example, pull-apart cinnamon raisin muffins and ginger cookies = amazing; garlic soup and arugula broccoli soup = too garlicky and too arugula-y).
ChocoMeat
This salad was SO good.. I want a heaping plate of it right now, instead of this sandwich. Oh how I adore Brussels sprouts. And macadamia nuts. And pineapple. And poppy seed ANYthing… Are you sure I wasn’t your inspiration?? ;)
tracy
your first shot is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Allison
This salad looks amazing! I recently made a raw brussels sprout salad, and i was shocked at how super yummy the raw sprouts were! Yours looks stupendous, and an intriguing. What a cool combination!
marina mott
Sounds delicious!!xx
Rocky Mountain Woman
I would love to have dinner with my bloggie friends…
No one would look at you strangely when you got up on your chair to get a better angle to photograph the carrots!
sweet!
Kankana
The salad sounds delicious! Dinner with foodbloggers sounds fun! Delicious and Fun sounds Happy :)
charlotte s
that salad looks just gorgeous! and dinner with other foodbloggers must have been lots of fun :)
cindy ensley
i looove, love brussel sporuts but I have yet to eat them raw…i”m scared, I don’t know why.
this salad looks amazing, i will definitely try that pineapple dressing…fresh pineapple was my favorite fruit as a kid.
Trevor
Mmmmmm! Your dinner party looks like it was FUN!
Gen
A dinner with food blog friends must be really nice! I’d love to participate in one, and I like all the associations of flavors that are used in your salad!
Philip Geneman
Joy, I love Brussel sprouts, the pineapple poppy seed dressing sound great! thanks for this recipe.
sheila @ Elements
It looks beautiful, Joy!! I wish I liked Brussel sprouts though. Actually, maybe I might like them raw. Cooked…yuck! But they might actually taste good raw. Hmmmm…wonder if I can buy one little sprout in the store today to try it? Would be worth a shot. We’ll see. :)
The lentils and toasted macademia nuts sound awesome, and the pineapple poppy seed vinaigrette sounds divine!! I’m sure everyone loved it!! :)
Hannah - bake five
finally! a way to eat those little bugger sprouts!
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
Oooooooh what a lovely, grown up dinner party!
I totally have grown up dinner party envy and wish that I could have been there.
And your salad! Similarly grown up and lovely.
Thanks so much for this recipe… I don’t know what I like more, the toasted macadamias, the shaved sprouts or the vinaigrette.
Picasso-esque, indeed.
Anne @ Baking Me
I just so happen to be writing my grocery list right now, I will be making this salad this week. Thanks for sharing :)
VADEPAN
This salad sounds…mmmmmm!!!! The table looks beautiful!!!! great pictures as always!!!!
tj
…Me likey. This looks delishush! :o)
…And might I add, how much I love, and I do mean love, the lights, the table, the setting – can I come to the next one? *giggle* I kid. I wish. ;o)
…Blessings…
ellen
LOVE the avocado slices- ta-dye-4 girl!
LOVE the pineapple- ugh it is probably loads fresher than mine from the store
LOVE the friendship, love, and doves flying over your heads.
perfect monday starter- thank ya! :D
Kalynskitchen
This sounds like a fantastic salad. I’m intrigued by shaved brussels sprouts, and I haven’t seen a combination quite like this. (And love that patterned blue plate you’re using too!)
Naomi
Awesome. That’s all.
Ali @ Three Baking Sheets
Damn. It’s posts like this that makes me reconsider which coast I want to live/eat/sip on.
Helena
With this delicious looking salad, I might even try brussel sprouts again. They were like my worst nightmare when I was younger, but I think it might be time to get over my trauma :-P
laura @ a little barefoot
i love brussels sprouts with a passion. this salad sounds amazing – as does a dinner party in a pretty dress.
Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer
Love this! I love salad and the brussel sprouts is a great idea. I have a bunch of spinachand a fresh pineapple that I just bought and thinking I may have to make this for lunch.
Rachel
This looks delicious! I love French lentils, and Brussels sprouts, and pineapple.
emma
OMG this looks so so yummy. salads are a challenge for me so I will for sure be trying this out soon. Thanks!
Michelle
Shaved brussels sprouts are so pretty! I love the colors. I bet pineapple makes this dish snappy! I am trying to fill my belly with brussels sprout before I have to wait for next season.
Mallory
So beautiful and colorful. Shredded brussels sprouts are such a great idea.
CobyLyn
I’d LOVE to try the Joie de Vivre cocktail :D Imagine a cocktail named after you ;) I saw your dress in the parting shot and you looked very cute! Looks like you all had a great time! PS: Brussel sprouts scare me… But I’ll give this a try, yum! roasted macadamia nuts and pineapple!!
*love*
Chez Us
What a fantastic flavor combination. I would have never thought to toss lentils or pineapple into my brussel sprout salad. Honestly, I would have never thought to toss pineapple into any of my savory salad. I feel the wheels turning.
Sounds like a fun night. I am glad you were invited, and glad that you wrote about it. Now, I know some new food bloggers, that are new too me (except Greg). Always nice to have new, creative foodies to be inspired by.
Kartik @ 101 Bakeology
I never used to like Brussel sprouts until I encountered Ina Garten’s recipe. All you do is coat with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and then roast it in the oven. It’s absolutely divine – crunchy on the outside and melting on the inside. Now I can’t stop eating eating this veggie. But I’ve never had it raw. So this will be interesting.
I love how your recipes tend to be so healthy!
Fresh and Foodie
Yum. I ADORE Brussels sprouts and love the idea of this salad. The dressing sounds excellent.
Seren
This salad looks so interesting!
I tried to follow the link to “Andy’s big, green blog,” but it has not been working… Could you post the URL or the blog name? I’d really like to check it out :)
Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
What a bright combo — I love the idea of the brussels with the avocado and citrus. Thanks for this idea!
sippitysup
It was so awesome having you to my house. And to be able to experience this salad straight from your hands was like having Picasso paint my picture! This salad is an unholy mashup of tastes and textures. It works on every level from color to crunch! GREG
Melinda
I’ve been wanting to try a brussel sprouts salad for a really long time – this sounds so awesome with pineapple!
Ryan
Ooooh, that looks so fun and the salad looks completely amazing!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul
Joy, this looks like the tastiest brussels sprouts salad EVER! I just posted a recipe for Mirin Brussels sprouts, but yours is cooler ; )
For a dinner party at my house recently, I served a pineapple fruit salad dressed with pure vanilla extract and lemon juice. The flavor combination of pineapple and vanilla is remarkably good; I’m wondering what it would be like to add a dash of vanilla to this salad.
The only way to find out is to try! I’ll let you know how it goes.
Katrina
The vinaigrette sounds so freaking tasty! I love the look of this salad.
DessertForTwo
How interesting! Love to get links to the blogs that inspire YOU! :)
Cheryl
Wow – this looks delish! I have baby brussel sprout plants growing from seed, for my garden this year – but I can’t wait until they are grown to make this salad! I will have to go to the store today….
Jenn from Much to my Delight
I LOVE shaved brussel sprouts! The combination of flavors here is making my mouth all twittery right now. You take you some pretty pictures, lady.
jen @ the baked life
This salad sounds delicious. Would’ve never thought of making a salad of brussel sprouts. The party looks so fun.
I would have this salad with gin anyday.
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
I have yet to try a Brussels sprout salad yet I love them cooked. It totally makes sense and this recipe looks so fresh.
Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
What a fun dinner party! I love brussels sprouts but never ate one raw. I wonder if a raw one would offend my husband less…? The flavor combination sounds intoxicating, as does the fun company.
The Café Sucré Farine
What a fun and unique salad! I love new salad recipes and this one looks delicious! Thanks so much for a great new recipe!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
This salad looks lovely!! Brussels sprouts are a perfect food :)
Heather (heather's dish)
wow, i have never thought to eat brussels sprouts raw, but i can imagine that being thinly sliced makes them incredible!
Anita Menon
When you meet foodbloggers,do you ( and them) have the tendency to out-do each other? The best presentation, the best flavour , the most popular, that kind of thing?
Brussel sprouts salad looks splendid.;-)
sweet road
This sounds great, I had never thought to use brussel sprouts this way! I do find that brussel sprouts and hummus make a great combo, so I guess I need to explore the possibilities of raw sprouts more often!
michelle
Wow. How beautiful is this? I just roasted 3 kilos of sprouts last night but I’m going to eat them quickly so that I can buy more and make this.
dbelle
what a stunning picture…
(the 2nd one, of the table top.)
Happy When Not Hungry
I love everything about this salad! The pineapple and the avocado add such great flavors. Love how perfect and healthy this is for spring too!
Miss P
Oh my….I want to have a food blogger dinner party. Yes indeedy. Were you friends already I wonder, or did you meet via the blogosphere? x
Holly B @ Recipes from a Normal Mum
Ooh, it looks good. But it’s too healthy for me. I might try it with whipped cream.
Seanna Lea
Awesome! I know I have some pineapple left over, but I think the only brussel sprouts I have are frozen. I wonder if I can make them come out even half as well if they are frozen. Hrm.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
I love raw brussles sprouts! I tell people that and they think I’m crazy, but that’s ok :) I do love them shaved in ribbons and I would love this salad!
I also adore pineapple and rice wine vinegar so pretty sure I could drink the dressing by the shotglass and be quite happy.
Adorable!! plate, too!! I want it! :)
The Wind Attack
I loved this salad. So much fun texture.
And I love that picture of the dining table at the top. It really captures just how fun that dinner was.
Candela
Sounds fantastic! I really like the table,the centerpiece it’s beautiful… I love flowers. :)
Ellie@fitforthesoul
Ohhh I love poppy seed dressings!!! this sounds delicious. I got hooked on poppy seed dressings when i had first tried it at SOUPLANTATION (a soup salad buffet) and it was orange popppy vinag. :)
Hannah (Hannah Lives)
This looks seriously delicious! Pecans would be fantastic in it, as well as maybe a berry (instead of pineapple) vinaigrette. I remember having a butter braised brussel sprout with some berry something or other in culinary school, and it was divine! Yum! I can’t wait to make this!
mitzi @ my nikon eats food
shaved brussel sprouts – genius! might actually make my boyfriend eat brussel sprouts, when it’s harder to tell what it is.