Food

Broccoli Apple Salad

Creamy, crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad made with fresh broccoli florets, apples, dried cranberries, almonds, sunflower seeds and onion tossed in a creamy poppyseed dressing.
BY Lauren Allen TIMEApril 7, 2023 PRINT

View the print-ready version of this recipe.

This Apple Broccoli Salad is one of my go-to side dishes because it goes well with any main dish, it’s colorful and completely delicious.

How to make Broccoli Apple Salad

  • Blanch broccoli and allow to cool. Use a paper towel to blot any excess water from the broccoli florets.
  • In a large bowl toss together broccoli, apples, red onion, almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.
Broccoli Apple Salad
(Courtesy of Lauren Allen)
  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle the dressing, just a little at a time, over the salad and toss to combine. Chill for at least one hour before serving.
Broccoli Apple Salad
(Courtesy of Lauren Allen)

Pro Tips

Cut the broccoli and apples into small pieces. That way each bite you take has a little bit of all of the flavors (and not just one big bite of broccoli!).

Blanch the broccoli, and then put it in an ice water bath to cool. Make sure to drain the water really well and pat the broccoli dry, to allow the frosting to coat it easier.

Make the salad (or at least the dressing) a few hours ahead of time, if you can. It tastes best when the flavors have had time to blend together.

Toss the apples in a little bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning.

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Broccoli Apple Salad

Author: Lauren Allen
Servings: 6
Calories: 278
Cost: 4
Prep 10 Mins
Cook 5 Mins
Total 15 Mins

Ingredients

  • 2 heads fresh broccoli , chopped into small florets (about 4 cups)
  • 2 apples , chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion , diced
  • 1/3 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Dressing

  • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Instructions

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli and cook for just a few seconds, to blanch it. Drain water (or remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon) and allow to cool. Use a paper towel to blot any excess water from the broccoli florets.

In a large bowl toss together broccoli, apples, red onion, almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.

For the Dressing

Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle the dressing, just a little at a time, over the salad and toss to combine. Chill for at least one hour before serving.

Notes

More Addition Ideas

  • Bacon.
  • Cheese: cubed cheddar cheese, shredded parmesan or feta.
  • Nuts: use your favorite kind, like pecan or walnuts.
  • Grapes.

Make Ahead Instructions

The salad tastes best made a few hours ahead of time, or up to several days ahead. Toss the apples in a little bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 11gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 790mgFiber: 8gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 1310IUVitamin C: 184.6mgCalcium: 166mgIron: 2.2mg

This article was originally published on tastesbetterfromscratch.com. Follow on Instagram.

Lauren Allen is the founder of Tastes Better From Scratch. Visit her food blog at TastesBetterFromScratch.com.
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