Broccoli Salad

Springtime means broccoli season! This Broccoli Salad recipe is the perfect way to enjoy this crunchy vegetable. The salad is served with a deliciously creamy and flavorful dressing that brings all of the flavors together.

Broccoli salad is a dish made of broccoli, usually raw, mixed with a creamy dressing. The broccoli can be chopped into small pieces or left in larger florets. Other ingredients that can be added vary but often include bacon, dried fruit, nuts, and other mix-ins.

Homemade broccoli salad is perfect for spring because it's light and fresh, but can also be enjoyed all year round. This recipe uses fresh broccoli florets along with carrots, pecans, apples, and bacon for a savory salad that also has a refreshing hint of sweetness and crunch.

How To Make Broccoli Salad From Scratch

1. Combine the dressing ingredients: Add the mayonnaise, olive oil, maple syrup, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper to a jar and stir or shake until smooth and fully combined. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. Assemble the salad ingredients: Chop the vegetables and fruit, then add the broccoli, bacon, carrots, pecans, cranberries, onion, and apples in a large serving bowl. Toss together to fully combine.
3. Add the dressing: Add ¾ of the dressing to the bowl and toss to fully combine. Right before serving, add the additional dressing as necessary. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

1. For best results, make the dressing at least 2 hours ahead of time. This will give the dressing time to develop its flavor.
2. Additionally, once the salad is tossed in the dressing, the salad should be stored in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will give the raw broccoli time to soak in the flavors of the dressing and help break it down.
3. If you want a slightly sweeter salad, increase the amount of maple syrup by 1 tablespoon. You can also use honey instead.
4. Additionally, if you like your broccoli salad with more of a crunch, double the number of chopped carrots, apples, and nuts.
5. This broccoli salad recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.

Variations

• To make this broccoli salad recipe vegan, substitute the mayonnaise with vegan mayo and omit the bacon.
• Add cooked protein such as ham, chicken breast, or shrimp to make it a more complete meal.
• If you don't have any pecans on hand, substitute with another chopped nut such as almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, or hazelnuts.
• Try this broccoli salad recipe with a variety of different fruits and vegetables. Some other great mix-ins include diced celery, green beans, cherry tomatoes, or cooked quinoa.
• Give the broccoli salad a salty bite by adding your favorite cheese such as feta, blue cheese, or cheddar.

Storing and Freezing

Storing: Broccoli salad can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or sealed bag for up to 3 days. The dressing can be stored separately or up to one week in the fridge.

Freezing: Due to the high water content in the vegetables and the mayonnaise, the texture would change to an undesired taste when thawed. Therefore, freezing is not recommended.

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