Whether you’re a broccoli enthusiast or looking for new ways to add nutritious ingredients to your meals, this healthy broccoli salad recipe is a game-changer.
Why I Love This Recipe
So many of my favorite recipes are “chop and toss” dishes. Chop up veggies and meat and toss them in a garden stir fry. Chop up some ribs and toss them on the grill. And, of course, the queen of the chop-and-toss, gorgeous summer salads like harvest pear salad or this one.
Fruit elevates a salad immediately, and blueberries are one of the best. While you might not have considered combining blueberries and broccoli, please trust me and try this. It will not disappoint.
What Makes Broccoli Salad Healthy
When it comes to a healthy and nutritious salad, broccoli takes center stage. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber, broccoli is a versatile vegetable that offers numerous health benefits.
One key factor that makes broccoli salad a healthy choice is the inclusion of raw broccoli. Many broccoli salad recipes include blanching broccoli, which kills some of the beneficial nutrients. (Source) By using raw broccoli in the salad, you are able to maintain the maximum nutritional value of this cruciferous vegetable.
Broccoli is rich in fiber, which helps promote good digestion and supports a healthy gut. (Source) It also contains vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and aids in collagen production for healthy skin. (Source) Additionally, broccoli’s nutrients and phytochemicals aid in cancer prevention and reduce inflammation. (Source)
By incorporating raw broccoli into your salad, you can enjoy its nutrient-rich goodness and maximize its health benefits. The crunchiness of raw broccoli adds texture to the salad, making it more enjoyable to eat. The vibrant green color of the broccoli also adds visual appeal, making your salad look fresh and appetizing.
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is fantastic on its own or paired with various other foods. Whether you’re looking for a light and refreshing meal or a hearty side dish, there are plenty of options to serve alongside your healthy broccoli salad. Here are some of our favorite suggestions:
- Chicken – When preparing a company-worthy meal such as roasted chicken with lemon reduction sauce, a side of broccoli salad is a nice change of pace from the typical green salad.
- Beef – Whether you grill steaks on the BBQ in the summer or make a hearty meatloaf during the winter months, broccoli salad complements beef entrees well.
- Fish – Feel free to get creative and experiment with different protein sources, such as salmon or shrimp. Broccoli salad goes great with these.
- Light Pasta Dish – Pair your broccoli salad with a light pasta dish, such as this creamy leek pasta.
These suggestions are just the beginning. The key is to choose complementary flavors that enhance the freshness of the broccoli salad.
In the Homestead Kitchen
This recipe was featured in issue No. 34 of In the Homestead Kitchen Magazine. If you are ready to master your homestead kitchen, this affordable monthly digital magazine was curated with you in mind.
It’s packed full of cream-of-the-crop homesteading information, including recipes, DIY instructions, inspirational stories, homesteading hacks, book reviews, gardening tips, and more. Get ready to spend less time striving in the kitchen and more time enjoying it.
If you prefer a physical copy, stay tuned! We’re planning on taking this magazine to print in January 2025, so subscribe today to lock in your price!
Supplies Needed
Before you can create a delicious and nutritious healthy broccoli salad, make sure you have all the necessary supplies on hand. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- Mixing Bowls – The dressing and vegetables will need to be mixed separately before they are combined.
- Cutting Board – Save those countertops!
- Knife – Check out these knife sharpening basics to keep your knives in good working order.
- Measuring Cups/Spoons – The measurements in this recipe don’t have to be exact, but having the proper ratios will give you the best results.
Ingredients Needed
When preparing this healthy broccoli salad, focus on using fresh and high-quality ingredients to maximize the taste and nutritional value of your dish.
For the Salad
- 9 Cups Broccoli Florets (Finely-Chopped) – Broccoli is the star of this salad, but you can swap it for other cruciferous veggies. Try cauliflower, broccolini, or even kale.
- 2 Cups Fresh Blueberries – Traditional broccoli salad calls for sugar-sweetened cranberries. The fresh blueberries in this recipe add the same sweet flavor without the added sugar.
- 1 Cup Matchstick Carrots – Cutting the carrots into matchsticks provides a nice texture and aesthetic appeal to the salad.
- ¼ Cup Diced Green Onions – If you prefer a stronger onion flavor, you can try substituting red onion or shallots.
- ½ cup Cashew Pieces – Pecans work well if you don’t have cashews on hand.
- ¼ Cup Sunflower Seeds – If you don’t have sunflower seeds on hand, toasted slivered almonds or pine nuts can be substituted.
For the Dressing
- ¾ cup Olive Oil – Or another mild-tasting oil, such as avocado oil.
- ¼ Cup Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best, but you can use a quality bottled lemon juice if that’s all you have.
- 1 Tbsp Poppy Seeds – Poppy seeds offer a nutty flavor and a nice texture to the dressing.
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard – Other types of mustard, such as this homemade grainy mustard or honey mustard, work great, too.
- 1 Tbsp Honey – I recommend using raw honey if you have access to it, but maple syrup also works great.
- 1 Tbsp Molasses – You can use any type of molasses (light, dark, or blackstrap) or sorghum syrup also makes a good substitute.
- 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar – This homemade apple scrap vinegar works great in this recipe.
- ½ tsp Salt – Any salt will work, but I prefer pure salt that does not contain additives like Redmond Real Salt. (Homesteading Hack: Use that link for Redmond Salt coupon code “HFSalt” for 15% off your order!)
How to Make Healthy Broccoli Salad
- Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl or jar with a lid and mix (whisk or shake) to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine broccoli, blueberries, carrots, green onions, nuts, and seeds. Toss to mix thoroughly.
- Top the salad with the dressing and toss again to coat.
- Refrigerate salad until ready to serve (up to 12 hours).
Homesteading Hack: Usually, you’d wait to dress a salad until just before serving. However, with this broccoli salad it’s best to dress at least an hour in advance so the broccoli has time to soak up the dressing and the flavors can meld.
Did you try this recipe? If so, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below, then snap a photo of your healthy broccoli salad and tag us on social media @homesteadingfamily so we can see!
FAQ
Broccoli is a nutrient-dense vegetable that is packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. It also contains antioxidants and is low in calories.
Raw broccoli retains all its nutrients, including vitamin C and fiber, which can be lost during cooking. Adding raw broccoli to the salad ensures that you are getting the maximum nutritional value from the vegetable.
A traditional broccoli salad usually contains commercially processed mayo, bacon, and cheese, which add unwanted chemicals and preservatives. A healthy broccoli salad focuses on using from-scratch dressing, incorporating fresh ingredients, and choosing add-ins that increase the nutritional value of the salad.
Yes, feel free to customize the recipe to your liking. If you don’t have sunflower seeds, you can use other types of nuts or seeds. Green onions can be replaced with shallots or red onions, and maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
Other Posts You May Enjoy
- Fresh Peach Salad Recipe – Easy Summer Dinner
- Green Bean Salad – Refreshing and Delicious Summer Dish
- Easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe – Simple & Delicious Appetizer
- Creamy Leek Pasta Recipe | Quick & Delicious
- Easy Meatloaf Recipe (Freezer Meal Prep)
- Creamy Corn Pudding: A Southern Comfort Classic
- Lemon Reduction Sauce With Roasted Chicken
Healthy Broccoli Salad
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- cutting board
- knife
- Measuring Cups/Spoons
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 9 cups broccoli florets finely chopped
- 2 cups blueberries
- 1 cup carrots cut into matchsticks
- 1/4 cup green onion diced
- 1/2 cup cashew pieces
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
For the Dressing
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl or jar with a lid and mix (whisk or shake) to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine broccoli, blueberries, carrots, green onions, nuts, and seeds. Toss to mix thoroughly.
- Top the salad with the dressing and toss again to coat.
- Refrigerate salad until ready to serve (up to 12 hours).
