Za’atar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad (vegan, gluten free)

This za’atar shaved Brussels sprouts salad is one of my favorite salads I’ve ever made!  It’s actually the first recipe I ever shared on my first blog because I needed to share it with the world.  🙂

It combines sweet and savory in a perfect way.  

Inspired by Middle Eastern flavors with a California twist.  After switching to a plant based (vegan) diet several years ago, I find myself more inspired to make more unique and creative vegan recipes.

At the base of this dish are cruciferous vegetables like Brussel sprouts and kale.

Cruciferous vegetables are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They have a large number of health benefits including anti-cancer properties and are especially helpful for lung and bone health.

My Passion To Create Healthy Recipes for Bone Health

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I was only 23, after finding that I had rare disease from a cortisol producing tumor (cushings syndrome) on one of my adrenal glands.  

This can cause bone loss, however it is reversible.  

Even though I had surgery to remove it, I still need to work on building my bone health.  This is something everyone needs to do, especially as we age because our bone density naturally decreases in time.

Foods like green cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts are a few of the most important vegetables for healthy bones and joints.  I also learned that dates are wildly beneficial for our health and especially great for any candida-overgrowth. 

I have noticed a huge difference in my health incorporating more dates as they’re rich in iron as well!

Tahini is the base of the dressing in this za’atar shaved Brussels sprouts salad recipe.  Tahini is basically ground sesame seeds and often used in my many of my recipes, as well as Middle Eastern cuisine.  

It brings a wonderful nutty flavor (but entirely nut free) and is rich in calcium.  Another reason I eat a lot of tahini is for healthy bones.  I love this tahini from Seed + Mill!  

Cooking Technique

A mandolin slicer is what inspired the technique in this recipe.  This allows you to get the raw Brussels sprouts cut very finely so the flavor isn’t overwhelming but blends in seamlessly with the other ingredients.  

Alternatively, you can use a sharp knife to thinly slice the brussels sprouts as best you can.  I absolutely love cooking with the Benriner mandoline because it allows you take ingredients that normally would be overpowering in larger bites, small and more refined. Benriner is the brand I use and trust, its the best!

However I realized the hard way you need to be extra cautious using the mandoline.  It comes with a protective sliding attachment  to use when slicing.  You can also wear a protective glove like this one.

Za'atar Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad (vegan, gluten free)

Justine Colbert

5 from 5 votes

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Course Appetizer, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, cleaned and thinly sliced best by using a mandolin or sharp knife
• 1 cup lacinato or curly green kale, chopped
• 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced or thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced optional
• 5 dates, pitted and chopped
• 10 kalamata olives, chopped
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1/2 cup chickpeas
• 1/2 avocado, diced

Za'atar Tahini Dressing

• 2 tbsp tahini extra for topping
• 1 large lemon, juiced and 1 tsp of zest
• 3 tsp olive oil extra virgin
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp za'atar green is za'atar (not the red kind)

Instructions

 

• Use a thin knife or mandoline slicer to thinly slice your Brussels sprouts (use a protective glove if needed) and chop kale, bell pepper and thinly slice red onion. (I remove the hard white center pieces after slicing the Brussels)
• Add ingredients to a large bowl.
• Optional: Add a little lemon juice and olive to massage the Brussels sprouts kale with your hands to help break it down.
• Add in chopped dates, olives and chickpeas.
• In a small bowl, add tahini, lemon juice, za'atar, olive oil and sea salt and mix until well combined. Add a 1-2 tsp of water if needed to thin the dressing out a little bit. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until very well combined.
• Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over low-medium heat for serve minutes (be mindful not to burn them). Add pine nuts and avocado to the salad.
• Serve with extra tahini drizzled on top and enjoy!
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

Keyword brussels sprouts, creamy vegan dressing, gluten free, shaved brussels sprouts, vegan salad, za'atar salad

The Key to this Za’atar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

The true star of this dish is really the Za’atar spice so I would recommend a good quality like this one online because it will really make the flavors of this dish stand out!  You can also find za’atar and tahini at most grocery stores and Middle Eastern markets.

This salad is light yet so flavorful.  If you want a more filling dish you could  add some brown rice or cooked quinoa with it.

If you love za’atar, I highly recommend making my za’atar fries with tahini sauce as well!

Hope you enjoy!  Please feel free to give a 5 star rating below if you like this recipe and feel free to tag me on social media @justinecooksvegan with your creations!

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