Description
Creamy broccoli salad dazzles with crisp florets, smoky bacon bits, and tangy dressing. Crunchy almonds and sweet raisins provide perfect balance, making this summer side dish irresistible for weekend gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) red onion
- 1 cup (150 grams) dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) almonds
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) bacon bits
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) cheddar cheese
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Chop fresh broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform size for even flavor distribution and consistent texture.
- Finely dice red onion to provide sharp, zesty undertones without overwhelming the salad’s delicate balance.
- Crumble crispy bacon into small fragments, creating savory bursts of flavor throughout the dish.
- Toast sliced almonds in a dry skillet until golden brown, releasing their nutty essence and adding delightful crunch.
- Sprinkle dried cranberries to introduce a sweet-tart counterpoint that complements the salad’s robust ingredients.
- Grate sharp cheddar cheese to infuse creamy richness and enhance the overall taste profile.
- Whisk mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl until achieving a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Drizzle dressing over prepared ingredients, gently folding to ensure comprehensive coating without bruising delicate components.
- Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour at 40°F, allowing flavors to meld and develop complex taste dimensions.
- Before serving, stir gently and taste, adjusting seasoning if necessary to achieve perfect flavor harmony.
Notes
- Customize protein options by swapping bacon with turkey bacon, tempeh, or omitting for vegetarian version.
- Toast almonds briefly to enhance their nutty flavor and add delightful crunch before mixing into salad.
- Reduce sugar content by using honey or stevia as alternative sweetener in dressing for lower-calorie option.
- Make ahead and store in refrigerator up to 2 days, allowing flavors to develop deeper complexity while maintaining crisp vegetable texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg