Rolf & Daughters opened about 6 months ago and has given me the best (restaurant) meal I’ve had in Nashville.  With on premises-made pasta, breads, and cheeses, what’s not to love?  Both times I’ve been, I have ordered Rolf’s brussels sprout salad.  It’s so unique!  I’ve never before eaten anything like it.  Crispy and salty, sweet and sour, and with a nutty crunch, this salad hits all the right notes in your mouth symphony.   Upon my second visit, I asked the waitress how the finely shaved brussels consistency was achieved.  She told me they have an 18-year old kid in the back, shaving brussels on a mandolin and shaving brussels is his only job all night long!  I felt empathy and appreciation for the brussels shaver.  I really hope someday his brussels-shaving skills promote him to perhaps line cook?  Anyway, here’s my version…

Ingredients

• 20 brussels sprouts (I found beautiful purple ones at my local natural health foods store, but green work just as well.  Green brussels are what Rolf’s uses!)
• 1 hard pear or green apple
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 lemon’s worth of juice
• 4 dashes of apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 palmful of walnuts, toasted and chopped
• salt & pepper
• Parmesan (for shaving)

Instructions

1. No way around it, to achieve the same consistency as Rolf’s, you will need a mandolin.  Clean your brussels.  After washing, I usually end up taking away 3-4 of the outside leaves.  Leave on the stems; they serve as nature’s handle while you are shaving.  Set the straight edge of the mandolin to 1/8″ or 3 mm.  Shave the brussels down to the stem.  Some of the shaves will stay in tact, making beautiful patterns!

Fibonacci Brussels!

2.  Toast your walnuts until fragrant, let cool, then roughly chop.

3.  Slice your pear/apple into matchsticks

4.  Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and vinegar.  Give a few cranks of salt & pepper.

5.  Just before serving, combine all the above ingredients and toss well.  You may not want to use ALL the dressing, so go halfsies at first, until you have the right amount for your preference.

6. “Shave” long strips of parmesan over top before serving.  I use my vegetable peeler for shaving the parm.  We served ours as a side dish to broiled salmon – perfect!

Seriously, this is my new favorite salad!

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