Look at me, posting a Thanksgiving recipe before the holiday! I’m never that organized. This weekend went by so fast with working, cooking, and let’s be honest, Pinteresting. It’s a black hole when I log on.. suddenly an hour went by and all I did was look at cool font roundups, portrait photography ideas, and chic modern houses I want to live in! I did edit some photos from a portrait shoot I did… let’s just say Lightroom is becoming my best friend.
Anyway, this Maple Roasted Brussel Sprout Quinoa Salad is seriously where it’s at. I roasted some brussel sprouts that I grew in my garden(!) with melted coconut oil, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. Ohhh emmm geee you guys. I’m surprised I even had any left for the salad with how may I was just popping in my mouth. They were like candy!
And really, why do brussel sprouts have such a bad rap? I remember as a kid having the worst aversion to them when I had never even seen one.
Then I just sauteed quinoa with a teensy bit of coconut oil until it got nice and toasty then covered it with some water and brought it to a boil and let simmer for about twenty minutes. Voila – quinoa! Which I did not take a picture of.
Add in some dried cranberries and I thought this salad was complete. But then I found some slivered almonds and added them to the salad and you guys. It was officially complete. The almonds add this lovely little crunch factor while not overpowering the maple roasted brussels, nutty quinoa, and sweet cranberries.
Purrfection.
It was delightful when it was warm straight out of the pan, and it might have even got better after being in the fridge overnight. The brussel sprouts held their firmness and developed even more maple-y taste. ♥
Make this for a Thanksgiving dish, or maybe after the holiday when you’re craving something healthy after eating a little too much stuffing and green bean casserole and pumpkin pie (which I know I will)! Just one more question: is it stuffing or dressing?
I didn’t mention, but this is both vegan and gluten free! Linking up with Meatless Monday 🙂
Enjoy!
- 1 pound fresh brussel sprouts
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1/2 cup craisins
- 1/4 cup silvered almonds
- Preheat oven to 400F. Wash the brussel sprouts. Dry them, cut off the hard bottom, then cut in half. Place them all in a bowl. In a small bowl, mix melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt. Pour over the brussel sprouts and stir to combine evenly. Place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Heat 1 tsp coconut oil over medium/low heat in a small saucepan and add the rinsed quinoa. Toast it for 1-2 minutes, until there starts to be an aroma. Cover with 1 cup water and bring to boil; reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes or until all water is absorbed.
- Add the roasted brussels to the pot once quinoa is done and add craisins and almonds. Stir to mix and serve!
I love this combination. How unusual. I pinned it to my Purely Maple board. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Thanks, Katie! 🙂 Enjoy your day!
This is the epitome of a perfect Thanksgiving side 😉 Yum!
Glad you like it, Rebecca! 🙂
Warm salads become a favorite at our house this time of year – and yours sounds like a wonderful addition to our rotation – love all the flavors and textures – love the slivered almonds added in!
They add the absolute best little crunch without overpowering the other stuff! I love warm salads 🙂
I’ve never thought to combine brussels sprouts with quinoa– YUM!
Such a wonderful combination! 🙂
Haha, I always post holiday recipes after the holidays too… Whoops
This looks so amazing! I love maple so I definitely have to give this a go 🙂
I can’t believe I had been missing out on maple flavor for so long! Let me know if you try it 🙂
Now this is my kind of salad 🙂 This recipe looks delicious and festive!
Delicious and festive it is! 🙂
We were on the same page today with our brussels sprouts! Thanks for linking up with us again this week. It would be great if you could post our button somewhere and hope you will check out the other great recipes too! See you next week I hope!
Thanks, Deborah!
Great flavor combination! Pinning now!
Woop woop! Thanks Jessica! 🙂
This sounds unbelievable! I LOVE roasted brussel sprouts and I think they would be amazingly well with craisins or cranberries!
Are craisins dried cranberries? I never knew, haha! Thanks Hannah!
Mmmm sounds great Leigha! i was equally proud yesterday that I got on top of mine before the date! Look at us go! Next year plan the leftovers recipe for thanksgiving day hehe! Thanks for joining our linkup, love your recipes!
lol! Thanks Tina! loved your stuffing recipe!!
Surprisingly, I’ve never had quinoa or brussel sprouts, but this looks like the perfect recipe with which to try them. It looks so good! I just want to pick it up from out of my screen and eat it right now! Seriously, though, I spend too much time on your blog just looking at pictures of food and making myself hungry. Happy Thanksgiving!
Aww, thanks lovely!! You should definitely try quinoa and brussels. Don’t wait any longer! 🙂
This looks amazing! I love the combo of salty and sweet. Might have to try this for a good post-Thanksgiving lunch!
It would be perfect for that 🙂 let me know if you try it!
Oh yes please! Feed me now:) looks marvelous girl!
Thanks girlie! 🙂
Wow! Love this combination! Looks delicious! This is the perfect healthy fall dish!
It’s just screaming fall! Thank you Alex 😀
WAIT…roasted brussels sprouts AREN’T candy?! You could have fooled me.
This is totally my kind of salad!
Haha, I will roast them and pop them out of the fridge for a quick snack! So tasty! Thanks, Joanne 😀
This would be the most perfect school or work lunch ever!! I keep forgetting to bring my lunch to work and my paycheck is being eaten up haha 😉 Looks amazing and your photos are perfection <3
It’s perfect for lunches!! But really, are you forgetting or just “forgetting”? 😉 If I worked at Whole Foods I would never bring my own food!!
What a great salad! I’ve never done quinoa with brussels sprouts before, but I should definitely give it a try!
It’s a lovely combination! 🙂
Hi Leigha! This is my first visit to your blog, and I just wanted to let you know I love it! Great recipes and I’m looking forward to following you! Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Aw, thank you! Comments like these make my day 🙂 I hope you have a great Thanksgiving too!
These look delicious, Leigha! I love Brussels sprouts 🙂
ME TOO! 🙂
Never had thought about maple syrup + brussel sprouts. Love the combination, looks so delicious!
It’s a lovely combo! 🙂
Dear Leigha,
After slacking off commenting on your blog for months, I’m back, and I made this recipe (!!!). I’m visiting my brother and staying in his apartment, so I made this for dinner for his roomies and me tonight. I think I’m everyone’s new best friend. I’m not sure how you come up with recipes like this, but you never cease to amaze me. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving. I’m so thankful for you and your lovely self.
xx
Aw Katherine. I <3 you SO much. You comments never fail to be such a bright part of my day! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving yourself and I'm so grateful that you are in my life!! Can we plan a real life meeting? Like plz. That would be the best.
Seriously my main life goal is to meet my blog friends (especially you). We need to make this happen one day!!
But it’s my main life goal too 😀 I know!! Seriously, let’s plan it!
2 of my favorite things in one dish…quinoa + brussels is a match made in heaven 😀
Right?! Then adding maple syrup… #bliss