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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Salad

    Broccoli Salad

    Published: Sep 8, 2020 · Modified: Sep 14, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

    1268 shares
    • 343
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb / Vegetarian

    When you need a bit more green in your life, and are looking for a crunchy and vibrant side dish, then make our delicious Broccoli Salad. Bite sized pieces of broccoli, cranberries and almonds all brought together with a light and zesty dressing.

    A salad of raw broccoli, cranberries and almonds on a wooden plate.

    We are always looking for more ways to get green vegetables in to our diet and this broccoli salad is one of our favourite ways. It’s super quick and  easy to make, with just a few ingredients. Serve this tasty summer salad as a side with dinner, or make it for a crowd at a BBQ.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make Broccoli Salad - Step by step
    • Health benefits of broccoli salad
    • What else can be added? 
    • Dressing
    • What to serve it with
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More salad recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • An easy way to get more greens in your diet
    • Quick to make
    • A great BBQ side
    • Can use raw or cooked broccoli
    • Easy to adapt
    • Can be made in advance

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Broccoli - The star of this dish. To make this the best it possible can be, then try to choose the perfect broccoli. Choose a broccoli head with tight, green florets and firm stalks. Your broccoli should feel heavy for its size. Avoid broccoli with dried out or browning stem ends or yellowing florets.
    • Celery - This adds some extra crunch to the salad. I know that not everyone loves it (even though I don't think it really tastes of anyway), so you could swap it for another crunch vegetable like carrot or bell pepper.
    • Oil - Try to use the best quality olive oil that you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
    • Vinegar - We used apple cider vinegar, as we love the tangy flavour. You could use red wine vinegar for a deeper flavour.
    • Mustard - This gives a nice kick to the dressing. We used Dijon mustard, but you could use wholegrain instead.
    • Honey - Runny honey is best to use for this.
    • Cranberries and almonds - These are optional toppings, but the cranberries add a nice sweetness and the almonds add a nice crunch.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make Broccoli Salad - Step by step

    One: Mix all the dressing ingredients together.

    A small dish with a salad dressing in it.

    Two: Put all the salad ingredients in a large bowl, pour over the dressing and mix well.

    A large mixing bowl containing broccoli florets, cranberries and almonds.

    Health benefits of broccoli salad

    Yes, this is a really healthy side dish. I am sure we are all aware of how nutrient dense the humble broccoli is. If you aren’t, then it is a great source of fibre and folate, as well as vitamins A, C, E and K.

    Broccoli salad is traditionally loaded with a creamy dressing and some cheese, however we have left that out of our recipe to make it lower in calories. However, we have provided those are suggestions below if you do want to make it more indulgent.

    A whole head of broccoli.

    What else can be added? 

    This salad is so easy to adapt and add other ingredients, which is why we love it so much.

    Other vegetables that work well in this are cucumber, courgette, sweet corn, mushrooms, peppers, mange tout or cauliflower.

    It doesn’t have to just be able the vegetables though. Some grilled and chopped bacon is a wonderful addition to this, and makes it a little more indulgent. The saltiness of the bacon pairs beautifully with the zestiness of the dressing and the sweetness from the cranberries.

    We used cranberry and almonds as the crunchy topping for this salad, however you could swap the cranberries for another dried fruit like cherries or raisins and the almonds could be swapped for pecans or walnuts.

    Another delicious addition to this salad is some cheese. We like crumbled goats cheese or some shavings of Parmesan. Please note that any additions will change the nutritional information of this recipe.

    Raw broccoli florets, dried cranberries and flaked almonds all mixed together.

    Dressing

    A dressing really does make it bread a salad, so it has to compliment it perfectly. This dressing is a balanced mix of olive oil,  apple cider vinegar, a touch of honey and some mustard, along with seasoning of course.

    You can swap the honey for maple syrup or leave it out if you don’t like sweet dressings, although it isn’t overly sweet.

    You could make a creamier dressing my whisking in a little mayo to it.

    What to serve it with

    This side salad is so versatile and goes with almost anything. We love it with grilled chicken or salmon.

    It’s also a favourite side dish at our BBQs, so it goes with things like beef burgers and halloumi skewers. Here are some of our favourite recipes to serve it with.

    • Tomato Puff Pastry Tart
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Easy Chicken Traybake
    • Vegetable and Halloumi Kebabs
    • Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
    • Honey Mustard Salmon
    • Stuffed Chicken Breast
    • Chicken Kiev
    A wooden plate with a big pile of broccoli florets, cranberries and almond flakes.

    FAQs

    How to store broccoli salad

    If you have leftovers, or you are making it in advance, then you can store it in a covered bowl in the fridge. It’s best to eat it within 24 hours so it’s nice and fresh and still has a crunch to it, however it will be good for a couple of days. 

    Can broccoli salad be made in advance?

    Yes, this is a great dish to make in advance as when using raw broccoli it doesn’t get soggy, and it gives the broccoli a change to soak in all that delicious dressing. 
    Don’t put the nuts on until just before serving though, as they can get soggy if left to soak for too long. 
    If we are making this as a BBQ side dish, then I always make it the night before and it’s one less thing to do on the day. 

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Make sure you use the broccoli in to small bite sized pieces. With the broccoli being raw, smaller pieces make it easier for the dressing to soften it and makes it easier to eat.
    • If you are making this in advance, make sure to add the nuts at the last minute so they don’t get soggy.
    • A little bit of cooked chopped bacon is a great addition to this salad.
    • Why not try some crumbled goats cheese or shaved Parmesan on top?

    More salad recipes

    • Easy Pear Salad
    • Feta and Chickpea Salad
    • Roasted Vegetable Couscous Salad
    • Asian Cucumber Salad

    If you’ve tried this broccoli salad recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Broccoli Salad on a wooden serving plate next to a yellow towel

    Broccoli Salad

    A broccoli salad that would win over any guest, even the non-broccoli loving ones. Great as a main dish, or as a side at a BBQ.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    5 from 23 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 minute
    Total Time: 6 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a bunch of celery.
    Celery
    An illustration of a mustard bottle.
    Mustard
    An illustration of a wine glass.
    Sulphites
    Servings: 15
    Calories: 105kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 1 head Broccoli - chopped into small pieces
    • 1 Celery - diced
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 tbsp Honey
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • Dried cranberries and flaked almonds to serve - optional

    Instructions

    • Put all of the dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
    • Put the salad ingredients in a large bowl, add the dressing and mix together.

    Notes

    • Make sure you use the broccoli in to small bite sized pieces. With the broccoli being raw, smaller pieces make it easier for the dressing to soften it and makes it easier to eat. 
    • If you are making this in advance, make sure to add the nuts at the last minute so they don’t get soggy. 
    • A little bit of cooked chopped bacon is a great addition to this salad.
    • Why not try some crumbled goats cheese or shaved Parmesan on top?

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 97mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 610IU | Vitamin C: 63.5mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shelley

      September 11, 2020 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome - so excited about this! I adore broccoli salads, but have always hated the fat- and calorie-loaded mayonnaise dressings most recipes use. This is such a wonderfully light and delicious change - thank you!

      Reply
    2. Toni Dash

      September 09, 2020 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      This is a really flavorful and amazing salad!! Glad everyone at my family loved it!

      Reply
    3. Jacque Hastert

      September 09, 2020 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      This is always a hit when I make it! We bring it to almost every potluck, picnic, or bbq. Can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
    4. Jacqueline Debono

      September 09, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      I rarely eat raw broccoli. I don't know why because it's a veg I love. This salad looks lovely. The cranberries and almonds are a great addition. On my to make list!

      Reply
    5. Wayne

      September 09, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I love this recipe! It's so delicious and tasty!

      Reply
    6. Traci

      September 09, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      Always so easy and delicious! We love this salad any time of the year too, esp since broccoli is always available.

      Reply
    7. Gina

      September 09, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      Broccoli has always been a favorite veggie of mine so I LOVE broccoli salads like this. The cranberries and almonds make it perfect for fall too. What a great side dish to so many dinner options!

      Reply
    8. Lauren Vavala | Delicious Little Bites

      September 09, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      5 stars
      Broccoli salad is my favorite side dish! I love the tart little bursts from the cranberries - yum!!

      Reply
    9. Helen of Fuss Free Flavours

      September 09, 2020 at 11:16 am

      5 stars
      Broccoli is one of my favourite veggies, and is so good raw. I love dishes that pack in lots of hearty nutrition, and this really is full of goodness. A perfect, tasty, easy to make side dish.

      Reply
    10. Beth Sachs

      September 09, 2020 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and the honey and mustard dressing made it! I sprinkled some feta on top too.

      Reply
    11. Anjali

      September 09, 2020 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      This broccoli salad was super easy to make and the dressing was light and refreshing! It was perfect for a summer dinner!

      Reply
    12. Angela

      September 08, 2020 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      I kept looking for the mayo in the recipe. I really enjoyed this recipe. It's a keeper!

      Reply
    13. Taylor Kiser

      September 08, 2020 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious flavors going on here! One of my favorite ways to use broccoli!

      Reply
    14. Ashley

      September 08, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      This is so so so good!!! I can't believe it doesn't have mayo in it, this southern belle is super impressed! ;-)

      Reply
    15. Alyssa

      September 08, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome recipe! This is one of the only ways I can get my kids to eat broccoli in large quantities! :)

      Reply
    16. Beth

      September 08, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so tasty! My husband is going to love this recipe! Can't wait to make this for him!

      Reply
    17. tyson

      September 12, 2018 at 8:04 am

      5 stars
      A great and new dish from the familiar ingredients, i will make this salad for my family.

      Reply

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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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