Sweet and crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad is a must-have for summer barbecues, picnics, lunch at the office, and Saturday nights at home.
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I am a broccoli salad freak. When I first began my journey to eating healthier, it was my go-to when I wanted something with a little crunch, a little sweetness, and plenty of veggies. Broccoli salad has been a staple at tables for generations, but what I love about this specific recipe is that it includes apples. The apples give it even more crunch and flavor.
I am not sure where broccoli salad came from or who first created it. I know it stems from broccoli slaw, which grew in prominence in America in the 20th century. Still, today’s broccoli salad is brilliant. I sometimes think about recipes and wonder how, one day, someone was messing around in the kitchen and came up with an amazing concoction. Broccoli salad is the perfect balance of tart, sweet, and crunchy. If you can’t get someone to eat their broccoli this way, they are never going to eat broccoli.
The homemade dressing cannot go unnoticed here. The blend of apples, broccoli, and nuts is one thing, but then it’s tossed in a mixture of mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and sugar, coating each piece with a beautiful, creamy dressing that can’t be replicated in a store-bought bottle of salad dressing.
Is Broccoli Apple Salad Healthy?
Broccoli salad is chock-full of wonderful goodness! Here’s the list: broccoli, apples, carrots, onion, pecans—shall I go on? Okay—dried cranberries, and a dressing made with Greek yogurt. So, yes, broccoli salad is a healthy choice. It adheres to the Mediterranean diet and is gluten-free.
Vegans and those who are dairy-free can omit the dressing and instead use the dressing recipe for vegan broccoli salad, which doesn’t include dairy.
The secret to a tasty broccoli apple salad
With so much goodness in this salad, which part is the secret to making it great? It’s the homemade salad dressing. Store-bought dressings are full of fillers, corn syrup, and artificial flavors and colors. The dressing aisle has come a long way, though; these days, you can find several healthier options. Still, you can never beat homemade, so you know exactly what is in your salad dressing. This one is creamy, tangy, and goes perfectly with the tart apples.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 large apples, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise, low-fat
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, low-fat
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine
Mix broccoli, carrots, onion, apples, pecans, and cranberries.
Dress
Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Toss & Chill
Combine salad and dressing; refrigerate.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Since broccoli apple salad is served chilled, it’s easy to place any leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to five days. I don’t recommend you freeze salads.
This salad does contain pecans, so those with a nut allergy should omit the pecans or use something different, such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds for that extra crunch.
Some people, including myself, like a lot of dressing on their salads. If that’s you as well, go ahead and double the dressing ingredients so you have plenty to put on your broccoli apple salad. If not everyone wants additional dressing, you could actually reserve some of the extra dressing on the side.
Serving Suggestions
Broccoli apple salad is a wonderful meal in itself. Pack it up and bring it to work, or keep it in individual ready-to-eat packages so that when working from home or just hanging out on the weekends, you won’t be tempted to eat junk food and can instead grab a container of homemade salad.
If you would like more than just the broccoli apple salad, there are some fun foods to serve alongside it. Sandwiches like an egg salad sandwich or a chicken pesto sandwich turn broccoli apple salad into a filling meal. A light meal of fish also pairs well with your broccoli apple salad. Consider baked cod or grilled tilapia on a warm summer night.
Broccoli Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 large apples finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise low-fat
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt low-fat
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine the broccoli florets, shredded carrots, diced red onion, chopped apples, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the low-fat mayonnaise, low-fat Greek yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
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Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss until everything is well coated. Refrigerate the salad to chill before serving.
Nutrition
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