Fresh Crunchy Broccoli Salad (Printer-friendly)

Crisp broccoli meets tangy dressing with sweet cranberries and crunchy sunflower seeds in this refreshing cold side dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 2 small heads)
02 - ½ small red onion, finely diced
03 - ½ cup shredded carrots
04 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

→ Add-Ins

05 - ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
06 - ½ cup roasted sunflower seeds or sliced almonds
07 - ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded (optional)

→ Dressing

08 - ⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt (or mayonnaise for a classic version)
09 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
11 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Blanch the broccoli florets: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli florets and cook for 1 minute, then immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain and pat dry completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine broccoli florets, red onion, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and cheddar cheese.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can make it ahead and it actually gets better after sitting in the fridge for a day
  • The combination of sweet cranberries and sharp cheddar creates this perfect balance nobody can quite put their finger on
  • It travels beautifully to potlucks and picnicks without wilting like leafy greens do
02 -
  • Cutting the broccoli into uniform bite sized pieces ensures the dressing coats everything evenly
  • The salad tastes significantly better after resting so never skip the chilling step
  • Patting blanched broccoli completely dry prevents the dressing from becoming watery
03 -
  • Toast your sunflower seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes to unlock way more flavor
  • Use a box grater to shred the carrots directly into the bowl for even easier prep

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