Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Dates

I decided to make arayes again.  Because lamb is a bit greasy, I wanted a crunchy and tangy salad to go with it.  After studying several recipes for a raw Brussels sprout salad, I came up with this.

Yes, you can eat them raw.  You can eat anything from the cabbage family raw, as far as I know.  Some just need a bit more preparation than others to make them easier to chew and digest.

I'm going for a light and tangy dressing, with the mustard countered by date syrup.  Honey is a good substitue if you don't have that.  It's picking up the relatively few dates in the salad.  And while I'm using pine nuts, most of your favorite nuts would work, like pecans, almonds, or even macadamias.

1 lb large Brussels sprouts
*3/4 C dates, pitted and chopped (number will vary with size and type)
*1/4 C pine nuts or sunflower seeds, or more if using a larger nut
*1 Tb mustard of choice
*2 tsp date syrup or honey
*2 Tb apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 C olive oil
crumbled feta or goat cheese for garnish, optional

1.  Wash sprouts and remove any spoiled outer leaves.  Thinly slice crosswise and discard stem.  I went back and forth between trying the V-slicer and a knife.  It was too hard to get the guide to stick to a small sprout and I sucked it up to do it the hard way.  If making a double batch for a party, maybe cut off the stems and run them through the food processor with the slicing blade.

2.  Add the chopped dates.  Toss everything, breaking up the sprouts as you go.  This was when I decided I needed a larger bowl.

3.  To make the dressing, whisk together the mustard, date syrup, vinegar, salt, and olive oil.  I finished off a jar of Dijon mustard and it went great with the date flavorings.  A honey mustard would also be nice, but you might need more vinegar to cut the sweetness.

4.  Pour the dressing over the sprouts and toss to coat.  It doesn't seem like enough at first, but you will soon see an even, light coating with nothing pooled at the bottom.  If not serving immediately, chill.

5.  When ready to serve, garnish with nuts and crumbled cheese, if desired.

Difficulty rating  π