Broccoli Bacon Salad

Yesterday, I was at the grocery store shopping for fresh veggies with my friend Anne. I told her how fed up I was of the regular salads. She suggested the Broccoli Bacon salad and assured me that I'll love it! Desperate to try a new salad recipe and break my week-long monotony - I tried it and I must say that I was really happy the way it turned out! A broccoli bacon salad is not only a healthy recipe to include in you diet, but it is also a tasty treat!

Nutritional Value of the Broccoli Bacon Salad

Before I give you the recipe for the broccoli bacon salad, here are some nutritional facts about the ingredients that you will be using in the recipe. This recipe can be a wholesome meal for lunch or even breakfast. In case you are a vegetarian you can simply replace the bacon with tofu or smoked soy chunks. So here is what you need to know about the ingredients of the broccoli bacon salad:

• Broccoli has high content of soluble fiber and Vitamin C, which makes it a good ingredient for the digestive system and also serves as a source of energy.
• Broccoli also contains several nutrients like diindolylmethane and selenium, which have potent anti-cancer properties.
• 3,3'-Diindolylmethane, which is found in broccoli acts as a potent regulator of the body's immune system.
• Smoked bacon on the other hand is a source of protein and also contains iron.
• Raisins provide fructose and antioxidants.
• The sunflower seeds are an excellent source of linoleic acid (which is an essential fatty acid), dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin E and Vitamin B as well.
• Sunflower seeds also contain beneficial minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium and zinc.
• Sunflower seeds are rich in phytosterols - which are compounds that help to reduce the cholesterol.
• Red onions are a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and minerals like Potassium and Manganese.
• Lemon juice is a good source of Vitamin C and also contains Folate and Potassium.
• Yogurt is a rich source of protein, calcium, riboflavin, Vitamin B6 as well as Vitamin B12.

Broccoli Bacon Salad Recipe

A broccoli bacon salad is a must try for people who want to have a balance of nutrition and taste. The fresh and healthy broccoli, combined with creamy yogurt and crunchy bacon, and onions and sprinkled with sunflower seeds makes for a crunchy and delicious salad recipe!

Ingredients:

• Chopped broccoli - 1
• Raisins - ½ cup
• Finely chopped red onion - ¼
• Brown sugar - 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice - 3 tablespoons
• Low-fat yogurt - 1 cup
• Sunflower seeds - 1 cup
• Smoked bacon - 10 slices

Preparation:

1. Make sure you have chopped the broccoli in bite size pieces.
2. Cook the bacon in a deep skillet over medium high heat, until it is brown in color.
3. Now in a salad bowl, combine the broccoli, raisins and chopped red onions.
4. In another bowl, mix the yogurt, white sugar and lemon juice to form a homogenous salad dressing.
5. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss to coat.
6. Now add crumbled pieces of bacon and sunflower seeds just before serving.
7. It is important to add the sunflower seeds and bacon right before serving, this helps to retain the crunchiness of these ingredients.
8. Give it one final toss and serve fresh.