Best Broccoli Salad Recipe
A crisp, flavorful broccoli salad combining fresh, crunchy broccoli with shredded carrots, red onion, crispy bacon, sweet dried cranberries, and toasted sliced almonds, all coated in a tangy and creamy apple cider vinegar mayo dressing. Perfect as a side dish for barbecues, lunches, or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- Kosher salt
- 3 heads broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the broccoli: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil and generously season it with kosher salt. This salted boiling water helps season the broccoli during cooking.
- Blanch the broccoli: Cook the broccoli pieces in the boiling salted water for 1 to 2 minutes until they become fork-tender but still crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the broccoli immediately to a large bowl filled with ice water. This stops the cooking process and preserves the bright green color and crunchiness.
- Drain the broccoli: Let the broccoli cool completely in the ice water, then drain well to remove all excess water. Transfer the cooled broccoli to a large salad bowl.
- Add the vegetables and toppings: To the bowl with broccoli, add shredded carrots, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled cooked bacon, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds. These ingredients add a variety of textures and flavors, from sweet and tart to smoky and crunchy.
- Mix the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar until smooth. Season the dressing with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and gently stir everything together until all ingredients are well coated with the creamy dressing.
- Serve: The salad can be served immediately or chilled for an hour to let the flavors meld even more. It makes a refreshing and satisfying side dish.
Notes
- Blanching the broccoli briefly and shocking it in ice water keeps it crisp and preserves its vibrant color.
- Feel free to substitute dried cranberries with raisins or dried cherries for a different sweet note.
- For added crunch, you can toast the sliced almonds lightly in a dry skillet before adding them to the salad.
- Make sure to drain the broccoli very well after blanching to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator; toss again before serving.
Keywords: broccoli salad, creamy broccoli salad, bacon broccoli salad, healthy side dish, vegetable salad, picnic salad
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/best-broccoli-salad-recipe/
