Description
A refreshing and nutritious broccoli salad featuring fresh broccoli florets, shredded carrots, sweet red grapes, red onion, and a creamy apple cider vinegar dressing. Enhanced with optional crumbled bacon and crunchy sunflower seeds, this salad is perfect for a healthy snack or a vibrant side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Fruits
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup red grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled (optional)
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the broccoli: Wash the broccoli thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt or pesticides. Using a sharp knife, cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets.
- Shred the carrots: Peel the carrots and shred them using a box grater or a food processor.
- Chop the red onion: Finely chop the red onion. If the flavor is too strong, soak it in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow it.
- Prep the grapes: Wash the grapes and slice them in half. Set aside.
- Make the dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, combine 1 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Whisk until smooth, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the broccoli florets, shredded carrots, halved grapes, chopped red onion, and crumbled bacon if using.
- Add the dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetable mixture.
- Toss the salad: Gently toss all ingredients until they are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve: Transfer the chilled salad to a serving bowl or individual plates. For extra texture and crunch, sprinkle sunflower seeds on top before serving.
Notes
- Soaking the red onion in cold water reduces its pungency and makes it milder in flavor.
- The bacon is optional and can be omitted for a vegetarian version.
- Adjust the amount of sugar in the dressing based on your sweetness preference.
- Chilling the salad enhances the flavor and helps the dressing coat the ingredients better.
- Sunflower seeds add a nice crunch but can be replaced with nuts such as almonds or walnuts if desired.
