BEST Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad is always a crowd pleaser.  This is one of our favorite ways to eat raw broccoli, even the kids love it..

Growing up, one of my favorite places to eat was Deli Delicacies in Lakeland, FL.   They had the BEST dishes I have ever eaten at a “deli”.  This was a Gourmet Deli all the way.  I loved the polynesian chicken which was this marinated juicy chicken breast with grapes & nuts.  Mom, loved the broccoli salad and the kids loved the gigantic cookies and bite sized petit-fours.  Unfortunately, they closed a few years ago…  Deli Delicacies was such an inspiration for me that I had to create my own version of Broccoli Salad.

If you google broccoli salad, you will find thousands of recipes.. Most of the “dressings” are somewhat similar and most salads have Bacon and Raw onion. I didn’t want my broccoli salad to have either since majority of my customers worked at the courthouse a few blocks away.  If I used Bacon, then it wouldn’t be vegetarian..  If I used onion, It could cause bad breath… So I made my own TaylorMade tweaks.. Giving the salad lots of “crunch” from much healthier ingredients..

It works for all diets.. Lo carb, hi protein, vegetarian, gluten-free, quick and kid friendly!!!

This was an Incredibly popular dish. I made a huge batch of this twice a day.. EVERYDAY….

Here is what you’ll need for the salad: Broccoli, Cheddar, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Cranberries & Raisins

The whole sweet & savory thing hits the spot on this one.. and if you like texture… you are going to love this.  It is healthy, filling and won’t weigh you down.. (or give you bad breath..)

This recipe can be made in less than 5 minutes.  You can also use pre-packaged broccoli florets to save you time..Add all your ingredients to the bowl..then add the dressing. Give it a good stir and let it chill at least 30 min before serving. This salad is best when it is eaten the same day.. The longer the broccoli sits the more the vinegar stars to break it down and it will lose its beautiful bright green color.

BEST Broccoli Salad

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Ingredients

  

• Dressing:
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp organic apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup high-quality mayonnaise
• Salad:
• 5 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup organic sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup organic pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup organic cranberries
• 1/3 cup organic raisins

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl, stir the sugar and apple cider vinegar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the mayonnaise and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until well combined.
• Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

– Feel free to adjust the dressing to suit your taste preferences. Add more sugar for a sweeter dressing, or more mayo and vinegar for a less sweet dressing. Be sure to taste the dressing before adding it to the salad.
– The dressing should be fully combined before adding it to the broccoli salad mixture.