Fresh Broccoli Salad
This Fresh Broccoli Salad is a bright, crunchy, and nutritious dish featuring crisp broccoli florets combined with tangy, creamy dressing and a variety of colorful ingredients. Perfect for quick lunches, potlucks, or as a vibrant dinner side, it offers a refreshing mix of textures and flavors that can be easily customized to fit your taste and dietary preferences.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cooking / Toasting
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Prepare the Broccoli: Rinse the broccoli thoroughly and cut it into small, bite-sized florets to ensure each piece is easy to eat and will be well coated with the dressing.
- Chop Supporting Ingredients: Finely dice the red onion and cube the cheddar cheese to create a balance of sharp and creamy flavors that complement the broccoli.
- Toast the Sunflower Seeds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sunflower seeds briefly until they turn lightly golden to bring out their nutty flavor and increase crunchiness.
- Mix the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Combine Everything: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the broccoli florets, red onion, cubed cheddar cheese, toasted sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. Pour the dressing over and stir carefully to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the dressing to soak into the broccoli.
Notes
- Use fresh broccoli for the best texture and flavor.
- Don’t skip toasting the sunflower seeds to maximize their crunch and nuttiness.
- Adjust the dressing consistency by adding more vinegar for tanginess or more honey for sweetness according to taste.
- Cut all ingredients to uniform sizes to ensure balanced bites.
- Serve chilled to enjoy the best flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: broccoli salad, fresh broccoli salad, healthy salad, easy salad recipe, potluck salad, vegetarian salad, gluten free salad