brussel sprout caesar salad with everything bagel croutons

do we eat salad so we can eat croutons, or do we eat croutons so we can eat salad?

unclear, BUT. if you’ve never made croutons at home before, SPRINT TO YOUR KITCHEN! this is not a drill!!! it is 1) ridiculously easy, and 2) extremely satisfying because they’re crunchy and perfect and your whole house will smell toasty and divine. I also really dig this salad because I am obsessed with brussel sprouts every single way they can be prepared: roasted, caramelized in orange juice, in breakfast tacos, or raw like they are in this salad. add a little homemade caesar dressing, and you’ve got the perfect base to jazz it up and make this a real stunner - throw a salmon filet on top, tomatoes + hard boiled eggs, or eat it just like this for a simple lunch! truly no bad options here, which I love.

last thing - if you are new to the trader joe’s everything but the bagel seasoning, a moment of silence to praise this historic moment for you. bless up.

brussel sprout caesar salad with everything bagel croutons
makes 4 small servings or 2 large servings
prep time: 10 minutes
cook time: 15-20 minutes

for the salad :
1lb brussel sprouts, shredded (slice them in half and toss them in your food processor - pulse for a few seconds. done.)

for the croutons :
1 loaf of day-old sourdough bread, sliced into small cubes (I like to leave the loaf unwrapped in a cabinet overnight so it can dry a bit)
1/4c olive oil
1tbsp trader joe’s everything but the bagel seasoning
1tsp sea salt
1tsp black pepper

for the caesar dressing :
1c avocado oil (or any mild-tasting oil)
1 egg
2tsp dijon mustard
juice from 1 lemon
3-4 anchovy filets OR 2tsp anchovy paste (if anchovy filets send shivers up your spine like they do for me, go this route)
3 cloves of garlic
1tbsp vinegar (any will do)
1/2tsp sea salt
1/2tsp black pepper

preheat oven to 375. toss the bread with oil and spices, and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. keep a close eye on the croutons towards the end- they can go from perfect to burned very quickly. once the croutons are baked, sprinkle with a little extra (or a lot extra) everything but the bagel seasoning.

meanwhile, blend all ingredients for the caesar dressing until smooth. toss the brussel sprouts with 1c of caesar dressing, and serve with croutons over top.