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    Home » Recipes » Easy Salad Recipes

    Broccoli Salad

    Published: July 22, 2022 | Last Updated: May 21, 2023 | Lisa 2 Comments
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    A turquoise blue bowl with with a bright colorful broccoli salad filled with tri-color grapes, purple cabbage, broccoli, green apple, and a creamy orange dressing.

    Last Updated May 21st, 2023 at 11:54 pm by Lisa

    A Broccoli Salad with vibrant colors of crisp green apples, crunchy broccoli, and sweet grapes. Topped with a creamy orange tangy dressing and salty pistachios mixed into this summer salad.

    A classic broccoli salad typically has lots of mayonnaise. This no-mayo broccoli salad that swaps in Greek yogurt for the mayo cutting fat and calories.

    Make a big batch, it works great for weeknight dinners, potluck picnics, and as a great side dish for summer BBQs. And is great at room temperature, I promise it will be the star of your cookouts...

    A turquoise blue bowl filled with colorful broccoli salad with pistachios and grapes.Pin

    Healthy Broccoli Salad Recipe

    A version of this same salad was published by my Aunt Barbara in one of her cookbooks, Intimate Dining back in the 1990s. My Mom and Dad kept the recipe card handy and made it often. What an easy recipe, with simple ingredients.

    This recipe is a modern clean version very similar to how my family made our favorite broccoli salad recipe. Try some of the alternative ingredient additions I suggest for you to jazz it up your way.

    fresh broccoli salad ingredients

    • 4 cups small broccoli florets
    • 2 cups thinly sliced purple cabbage
    • 2 cups sliced green Granny Smith Apples
    • 1 ½ cups seedless grapes sliced in half or any green/purple grapes
    • ½ cup salted pistachio nuts
    • garnish: orange zest

    creamy orange dressing ingredients

    • ½ cup greek yogurt
    • 1 cup fresh orange juice 3-4 oranges
    • zest from 2 oranges
    1. In a small bowl, mix the creamy dressing ingredients until smooth. Add the orange zest first, fresh orange juice, Greek yogurt, and mix well with a spatula. Set aside.
    2. Wash the broccoli, grapes, and apples in cold water. Cut the raw broccoli into small broccoli florets, leaving some of the broccoli stem. Place in a large bowl.
    3. Cut the grapes in half, add them into the bowl. Finely dice the cabbage on a board with a knife, in a food processor, or use a bag of shredded cabbage.
    4. Chop the apple into smaller pieces, or shred in a food processor. Add the apple to the big bowl. Add the pistachio nuts on top.
    5. Pour the salad dressing on, and toss to combine. Garnish with orange zest.

    Easy Brocolli Salad Tips, Swaps, & Additions

    PRO TIP: To make the best broccoli salad recipe, don't blanch or cook the broccoli! A lot of recipes call for this step. For the best results, I recommend you don't steam or boil the raw broccoli.

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    cabbage purple cabbage is so gorgeous in this salad, but green would work just fine. A store-bought bag of green or red cabbage or slaw mix at your local grocery store will work for this recipe. Use good fresh cabbage with a crunchy crisp texture.

    green apples I used green Granny Smith, but any apple you prefer will work just fine.

    pistachios the salty crunch of these is so amazing, and their green color pops in this salad against the bright purple and green colors! Another great addition to this popular recipe would be to toss in crunchy sunflower seeds or toasted pine nuts.

    yogurt swapping out the mayo for Greek yogurt is the best thing, as it saves over 661 calories! This cold broccoli salad is also safe for outdoor picnics as it has no mayonnaise. When the temperature rises, mayo dressings can become unsafe to eat in high temperatures as they are hard to keep chilled.

    orange juice and zest bring both a tangy zing and add a sweet freshness to keep the apples from browning. You can use regular oranges, small mandarin oranges, or pixie tangerines in the dressing.

    grapes seedless grapes sliced in half, any green or purple grape will work. The grapes I found used in this recipe are tricolor grapes, they are so gorgeous!

    Addition Ideas

    • Mayonnaise: add in ½ cup of mayonnaise in place of the Greek yogurt in the broccoli salad dressing, mayo does add back in alot more calories!
    • Grated Cheese: Adding a good grated cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, or feta cheese would also be tasty addition.
    • Dried Fruit: dried cranberries or any dried fruit like blueberries or cherries would be so pretty and yummy.
    • Bacon: salty bacon bits or crumbled bacon cut into small pieces would be wonderful with the creamy orange dressing.
    • Onions: toss in some raw veggies like green onions, sweet onions, or finely cut red onions.
    • Dressing: instead of a dairy-based creamy dressing, you could make a Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette for a vegan broccoli salad. Follow the proportions for this recipe that uses lemon juice. You can also swap in apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar in place of the lemon juice, and blend with the olive oil and Dijon mustard.
    • Creamy Broccoli Salad: add in creamy tahini, to any traditional broccoli salad in place of the dairy.
    Pin

    Broccoli Salad FAQ

    Can broccoli salad be made the day before?



    Yes. Simply prepare all the ingredients, and mix the dressing toss at the time of serving.

    Is broccoli salad healthy?


    It can be one of the most healthy side dishes with fresh real food ingredients. Skip high-calorie ingredients like cheese and mayonnaise.

    For a clean light dressing, swap the mayo for yogurt, and mix in citrus zest and juice from lemons or oranges.

    A young lady holding a turquoise bowl filled with broccoli salad drizzled with orange dressing and pistachios.Pin

    More Salad Recipes

    Cobb Salad made famous in Hollywood at the Original Brown Derby restaurant is loaded with delicious toppings like tomato, chicken, crumbled bacon, avocado, and chopped eggs.

    Put this easy salad recipe together up to a day ahead, and have your 7 Layer Salad ready to go to your party chilling in your fridge overnight complete with the dressing on top. It is a classic side dish for a potluck picnic and family gatherings.

    Yummy Taco Salad with lots of topping ideas, sides, and dressings. Works as lunch, for family dinners, or as party food for a large gathering!

    People love this tasty beautiful summer Watermelon Salad and it is ideal to make ahead for potluck parties. Always a hit!

    A Frozen Wedge Salad will cool you down & refreshing you and goes great with grilled steaks.

    A festive red and green Christmas Holiday Salad is a classic recipe for the holidays. It has an easy pomegranate vinaigrette and is topped with gorgeous sparkling pomegranate seeds, D'Anjou pears for the little trees, spicy candied pecans, ruby red dried cranberries, and juicy raspberries. Now, this salad says Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

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    CRAVING MORE?

    Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

    A turquoise salad bowl filled with broccoli salad with colorful grapes and pistachios.Pin
    Print Pin Recipe

    Healthy Broccoli Salad Recipe (No Mayo!)

    A Broccoli Salad with vibrant colors of crisp green apples, crunchy broccoli, and sweet grapes. Topped with a creamy orange tangy dressing and salty pistachios mixed into this summer salad. A classic broccoli salad typically has lots of mayonnaise. This no-mayo broccoli salad that swaps in Greek yogurt for the mayo cutting fat and calories.
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 274kcal
    Author Lisa Hatfield

    Equipment

    Epicurean Non-Slip Cutting Board
    Chef Knife

    Ingredients

    broccoli salad

    • 4 cups raw broccoli florets
    • 2 cups thinly sliced purple cabbage
    • 2 cups sliced green Granny Smith Apples
    • 1 ½ cups seedless grapes sliced in half or any green/purple grapes
    • ½ cup salted pistachio nuts
    • garnish: orange zest

    creamy dressing

    • ½ cup greek yogurt
    • 1 cup fresh orange juice 3-4 oranges
    • zest from 2 oranges
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, mix the creamy dressing ingredients until smooth. Add the orange zest first, fresh orange juice, Greek yogurt, and mix well with a spatula. Set aside.
    • Wash the broccoli, grapes, and apples in cold water. Cut the raw broccoli into small broccoli florets, leaving some of the broccoli stem. Place in a large bowl.
    • Cut the grapes in half, add them into the bowl. Finely dice the cabbage on a board with a knife, in a food processor, or use a bag of shredded cabbage.
    • Chop the apple into smaller pieces, or shred in a food processor. Add the apple to the big bowl. Add the pistachio nuts on top.
    • Pour the salad dressing on, and toss to combine. Garnish with orange zest.

    Notes

    serve

    To keep broccoli salad fresh, reserve dressing on the side and pour over or toss just before serving. 
    And use fresh raw broccoli! Don't blanch or steam the broccoli for the best results. 
    cabbage purple cabbage is so gorgeous in this salad, but green would work just fine. A store-bought bag of green or red cabbage or slaw mix at your local grocery store will work for this recipe. Use good fresh cabbage with a crunchy crisp texture.
    green apples I used green Granny Smith, but any apple you prefer will work just fine.
    pistachios the salty crunch of these is so amazing, and their green color pops in this salad against the bright purple and green colors! Another great addition to this popular recipe would be to toss in crunchy sunflower seeds or toasted pine nuts.
    yogurt swapping out the mayo for Greek yogurt is the best thing, as it saves over 661 calories! This salad is safe for outdoor picnics as it has no mayonnaise. When the temperature rise,  mayo dressings can become unsafe to eat in high temperatures as they are hard to keep chilled.
    orange juice and zest bring both a tangy zing and add a sweet freshness to keep the apples from browning. You can use regular oranges, small mandarin oranges, or pixie tangerines in the dressing. 
    grapes seedless grapes sliced in half, any green or purple grape will work. The grapes I found used in this recipe are tricolor grapes, they are so gorgeous!

    Addition Ideas

    • Mayonnaise: add in ½ cup of mayonnaise in place of the Greek yogurt in the mayo does add back in a lot more calories!
    • Grated Cheese: Adding a good grated cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, or feta cheese would also be a tasty addition.
    • Dried Fruit: dried cranberries or any dried fruit like blueberries or cherries would be so pretty and yummy.
    • Bacon: salty bacon bits or crumbled bacon cut into small pieces would be wonderful with the creamy orange dressing.
    • Onions: toss in some raw veggies like green onions, sweet onions, or finely cut red onions.
    • Dressing: instead of a dairy-based creamy dressing, you could make a Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette and make it vegan and use creamy tahini in place of mayo or dairy. Follow the proportions for this recipe that uses lemon juice. You can also swap in apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar in place of the lemon juice, and blend with the olive oil and Dijon mustard.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 947mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 145.6mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 2.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
    Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill says

      June 21, 2021 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      WOW! This recipe is fresh and delicious AND nearly every ingredient is a "Negative Calorie" food according to Rocco Dispirito! I'm goning to live on this salad this summer!

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        June 21, 2021 at 10:45 am

        So glad to hear you found a great summer salad Jill! It is a family fave I cleaned up...thank you for your rating too!

        Reply

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