Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli is a plant of the cabbage family and possesses abundant fleshy flower heads, which are green in color and are arranged in a tree like manner. Leaves surround these flower heads. Broccoli is known to contain glucoraphanin, which can be processed into an anti-cancer compound known as sulforaphane, although the benefits are considerably reduced if the broccoli is cooked. This is the reason as to why broccoli forms an integral part of the salads.

There is no question in anybody’s mind that broccoli is healthy. But raw broccoli in salads does not sound very appetizing to most people, especially the florets. Fortunately, there is a very easy solution to this. Blanch the broccoli for a minute and half. The broccoli will be firm for salad, blanching improves the color of broccoli and the best part is that it will not taste raw.

This article contains a few recipes to make the broccoli salad. Getting most of the people, especially children to eat broccoli can be a daunting task and I hope that these recipes can help make the task easier for you.

Tomato and Marinated Broccoli Salad

This is a colorful salad that should ideally be served in a glass bowl. Serve the salad along with carrot and celery sticks for additional taste.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of broccoli separated into flowerets
• Drained and pitted olives – 3/4 Cup
• Fresh mushrooms – 1/4 Cup
• Cherry tomatoes – 1 Cup
• Boiling salted water

Dressing

• Olive or salad oil – 1/3 Cup
• White wine vinegar – 1 tablespoon
• Minced onion – 1
• Minced garlic clove – 1
• Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon
• Chopped fresh parsley – 2 tablespoon
• Salt – 1/2 tablespoon
• Freshly ground pepper – 1/4 tablespoon

Preparation

• Drop the broccoli flowerets into the boiling salt water for a minute until they change color. Drain away the water.
• Trim the mushroom to about half an inch
• Mix broccoli, mushroom, olives and tomatoes in a bowl.
• Mix the ingredients that is oil, vinegar, lemon juice, onion, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl until the mixture is well blended.
• Pour the dressing mixture over the vegetables
• Turn the bowl gently to cover the entire mixture with the dressing.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of broccoli separated into flowerets
• 1 cauliflower head separated into small flowerets
• 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions
• 1 cup of raisins
• 3/4 cup of chopped pecans or sunflower seeds

Dressing

• Mayonnaise – 1 Cup
• Sugar – 1/2 Cup
• Vinegar - 1/3 Cup
• Vegetable Oil – 1/2 Cup

Preparation

• Mix all the ingredients together.
• Mix all the dressing ingredients properly.
• Mix the dressings with the rest of the ingredients and toss well.
• Serve chilled.

Broccoli Bacon Salad

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of broccoli separated into flowerets
• 8 slices of crumpled bacon
• Chopped red onion – 1/2 Cup
• Raisins – 1/2 Cup
• Cheddar cut into tiny chunks – 8 ounces
• Mayonnaise – 1 Cup
• White Vinegar – 2 tablespoons
• Sugar – 1/4 Cup
• Halved cherry tomatoes – 1/2 Cup
• Freshly grounded pepper and salt to taste

Preparation

• Mix the bacon, onion, cheese, mayonnaise and raisins properly in a large bowl.
• Mix rest of the ingredients into the bowl and toss gently.

Broccoli and Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of broccoli separated into flowerets
• Spiral acroni pasta – 2 cup
• Fresh Mushrooms – 2 Cup
• Pitted and sliced black olives – 1 medium sized can
• Pimento – 1 small jar
• Italian salad dressing – 1 bottle

Preparation

• Cool the pasta after cooking it well.
• Steam the broccoli till it is tender but crisp.
• Slice the mushroom after cleaning it well.
• Mix all the ingredients well and toss gently with the Italian salad dressing.

Thai Broccoli Salad

Ingredients

• Fresh broccoli flowerets – 3 Cups
• Sliced green onion – 1/4 Cup
• Chopped red bell pepper – 1/2 Cup
• Chunky or creamy peanut butter – 1/4 Cup
• Sugar – 2 tablespoons
• Hot water – 2 tablespoons
• Lime juice – 1 tablespoons
• Light soy sauce – 1 tablespoons
• Dark sesame oil – 2 tablespoons
• Vegetable oil – 2 tablespoons
• White Vinegar – 2 tablespoons
• Red pepper flakes – 1/4 tablespoons
• Crushed garlic – 1 clove

Preparation

• Mix peanut butter, sugar, lime juice, sesame oil, soy sauce and the red pepper flakes until the mixture is well blended.
• Heat the vegetable oil over a medium high heat in a large skillet.
• Add broccoli, onions, pepper and garlic in the skillet and stir fry for a couple of minutes until the vegetables are tender crisp.
• Remove the heat and add in the peanut mixture prepared earlier.
• Server hot or at room temperature

I hope that these recipes will help make broccoli for you and your family a little more appetizing.