Katie Lee Biegel's Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad Adds a "Fresh, Bright Moment" to Any Thanksgiving Meal

Who doesn’t love a good Thanksgiving spread? The turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and pie … Full yet? Including a lighter side among all the heavier ones and making it a tradition on your Thanksgiving table can be a nice way to balance out the meal.

In a new Instagram post, Katie Lee Biegel says that’s exactly why she made her Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Dates, Manchego and Almonds a family tradition for Thanksgiving several years ago—to add something “light, bright and fresh” to their table.

“I’m always so used to a Thanksgiving plate being all heavy items,” says Biegel in her IG story. “And I think it really benefits from having a nice light salad like this. The lemon really cuts through all the fat of everything else that’s on the table.” 

Biegel starts with a bowl of shaved Brussels sprouts (to save time, buy a bag of Brussels sprouts that are already shaved) and adds manchego cheese, chopped dates and chopped almonds. “Chopped dates for a little sweetness and chopped almonds for a little crunch,” she adds.

She then mixes up “a really simple vinaigrette with shallots, Dijon, honey, lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil,” pours it over the salad and mixes it all together. This recipe reminds us of our Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad (pictured above), which has a lot of the same ingredients (with dried cherries instead of dates and pistachios instead of almonds).

Biegel, a WW brand ambassador, notes that she doesn’t count points on the holidays, but she is still cognizant of making sure she’s getting her veggies in. “So I still think about filling up my holiday plate with all those good veggies and this is such a great way to round it out.”

Is This Recipe Healthy?

Biegel’s Brussels sprouts salad is loaded with nutrition and health benefits. 

For example, Brussels sprouts, almonds and dates are all packed with fiber, antioxidants and other nutrients. The almonds and olive oil also provide a nice shot of heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory fats.

Using dried fruit like dates adds natural sweetness without the need for added sugar. If you’re not wild about dates, try another dried fruit, like chopped dried apricots or dried cranberries. When choosing dried fruit, read the ingredients list to make sure it doesn't contain added sugar.

And the cheese? Yes, cheese also has health benefits, such as providing calcium and probiotics—the good bacteria that support a healthy gut. Manchego cheese is similar to Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano, so if you can’t find manchego, feel free to swap one of the others in for it—or really, any other type of your favorite cheese. 

If you prefer your Brussels sprouts cooked, we think this recipe would be equally delicious by roasting the Brussels sprouts first, letting them cool some and then adding all the other ingredients to it. Serve it warm or cold.

Or check out our roasted Brussels sprouts recipes—any of which would be a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving table. 

And who knows? You might start a new family tradition, too!