A new and improved version of the classic broccoli salad! Crunchy and sweet, it includes broccoli, raisins and a tangy dressing.
Do you like broccoli salad? We also. There’s something about this classic American broccoli salad: you know, the one with raisins and mayonnaise dressing? It’s a retro summer salad where the florets are marinated in the sauce until soft and salty-sweet. It’s oddly satisfying and gives us all those nostalgic vibes. Here’s a new, improved version of to make it fresh and wholesome: but it retains all the character and greed of the original. In fact: we think it is even better.
Broccoli Salad: New and Improved!
Mayo dressing and raisins smell like the 1950s and 1960s, don’t they? While we couldn’t find a definitive history of broccoli salad, it contains all the hallmarks of those decades. Usually topped with bacon and sometimes cheese, this salad goes from a fresh and healthy salad to a decadent treat. So, at A Couple Cooks, we set out to modernize this classic (just like we did with this green bean casserole). Here’s Why You Should Make This Broccoli Salad Recipe:
- Season with just enough mayonnaise. Mayo offers plenty of flavor and texture, but you don’t have to swim in it. This dressing is just the right mix of creamy and salty candy. Vegan mayonnaise is becoming easy to find: use it for a plant-based broccoli salad.
- Skip the cheese and bacon. Salad doesn’t need cheese and bacon to be good! By removing these, it is fresh and plant-based.
- Same good taste… or better! This salad is just as filling as the norm…we think it’s even tastier!
Ingredients for broccoli salad
Are you convinced? Here are the ingredients you need for the base of this broccoli salad:
- Fresh broccoli: Make sure it is at its maximum freshness. The fresher the broccoli, the better the salad!
- Red onion
- carrot
- Raisins: You can also use dried cranberries or cherries
- Mayo: Use vegan mayonnaise if you like
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Maple Syrup or Sugar: Either it works! Use pure maple syrup for a naturally sweet salad!
Add the smoked sunflower seed filling!
Remember we told you we took the bacon out of the classic broccoli salad? You don’t need anything in its place. But if you really want to top that salad off, make this topping with smoked sunflower seeds! It mimics the taste of bacon with sunflower seeds flavored with soy sauce, maple syrup and smoked paprika. They bring just the right smoky, savory flavor to the salad.
What is smoked paprika? It’s a smoky Spanish version of sweet paprika. You should be able to find it in most grocery stores: sometimes it’s labeled pepper. Smoked paprika is our plant-based secret weapon and we use it in many recipes! Access the best smoked paprika recipes for using a jar.
Do you really have to chill for 1 hour?
Good question: And we love that you love shortcuts (we do too). In this case, however: the waiting time makes a difference. Yes, broccoli salad needs to be refrigerated for 1 hour! Here’s why:
- It makes just the right texture of tender broccoli. Technically, you can eat it right away. But if you do, the broccoli is crispy. To be honest, it doesn’t taste good! Refrigerate 1 hour and it will soften just enough.
- The flavors are even more impregnated! The aroma also tastes better after that hour of soaking. Broccoli salad tastes even more tangy and salty sweet.
More broccoli recipes
Guess what? We have so many more classic broccoli recipes to enjoy this healthy vegetable! Here are some favorites to try:
- Broccoli Salad This creamy broccoli salad is irresistibly delicious! It’s easy to make with fresh broccoli or the packaged mix you can find at most grocery stores.
- The Quick Cheesy Broccoli is the better quick and easy side dish! A fan favorite.
- Blanched Broccoli An easy and social way to prepare this vegetable.
- Epic Roasted Broccoli Makes this leafy veggie taste so good you won’t be able to stop biting! It is charred until tender and then drizzled with lemon juice.
- Roasted Broccoli Perfect for weeknights! Crispy tender and full of flavor.
- Broccoli Parmesan We dare you not to take another bite of this crispy broccoli parmesan!
- Creamy Potato Broccoli Soup Intensely creamy, filling and 100% plant-based! It’s an easy, healthy soup that everyone loves.
- Broccolini Salad Want a unique twist on this salad? Make it with broccolini!
This broccoli salad recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free. For vegans, plant-based and dairy-free, use vegan mayonnaise.
The description
A new and improved version of the classic broccoli salad! Crunchy and sweet, it includes broccoli, raisins and a tangy dressing.
- 1 1/2 at 2 Pound broccoli on a stick, enough for 8 cups blossoms
- 1 cup sliced red onion
- 1 Carrot, julienned or grated
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup Mayonnaise (vegan mayo as needed)
- 3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For garnish
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Cut the broccoli into very small florets. Slice the red onion. Mix with raisins.
- Whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, and salt. Add to the vegetables and mix. Place in the fridge for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend and the broccoli to soften (you can eat right away, but broccoli is crunchy and less of the traditional texture).
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine sunflower seeds, soy sauce, sugar, smoked paprika, and 2 pinches of kosher salt. Heat over medium-high heat and sauté, stirring frequently, until sticky and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5-6 minutes, being careful not to burn and scrape any sticky bits off the bottom of the pan. When the color is tacky and dark (and may have clumped), remove from heat and spread in a single layer on parchment paper and allow to dry, about 10 minutes, until ready to serve.
- Garnish the salad with sunflower seeds to serve.
- Category: salad
- Method: Raw
- Kitchen: American
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Broccoli salad, best broccoli salad
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