Description
This Broccoli Salad is a delicious and nutritious dish perfect for healthy eating. Combining fresh broccoli florets with a crunchy mix of sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and a creamy dressing, this salad offers a perfect balance of texture and flavors. Whether served as a side or a light meal, it is easy to prepare, make-ahead friendly, and adaptable for vegetarian or gluten-free diets.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (optional for non-vegetarian version)
- 1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds or chopped almonds
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the salad base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds (or chopped almonds), shredded cheddar cheese, and cooked bacon if using. Toss gently to mix all the ingredients evenly.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt (or mayonnaise), apple cider vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and homogeneous.
- Combine and coat: Pour the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss thoroughly until every ingredient is well coated with the dressing.
- Chill the salad: Cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together and the salad to chill properly.
- Serve: Before serving, give the salad a final toss to redistribute the dressing and ingredients evenly. Serve chilled for best taste.
Notes
- This salad can be made up to a day in advance, making it ideal for potlucks or meal prep.
- For a fully vegetarian version, omit the bacon or substitute it with a plant-based alternative.
- Enhance the salad by adding chopped apples or grapes for extra sweetness and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
