Description
Crisp broccoli cauliflower salad blends garden-fresh ingredients with zesty dressing for a delightful side dish. Green and white cruciferous vegetables create a crunchy, satisfying combination that delivers bold flavor and nutritional benefits.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups broccoli florets (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
- 3 cups cauliflower florets (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
- 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- ½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup red onion (diced)
- ⅓ cup sunflower seeds (or slivered almonds)
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar (or honey)
- 2 tbsps apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously rinse broccoli and cauliflower, pat dry, and chop into uniform bite-sized florets, ensuring pristine cleanliness and appealing presentation.
- Ingredient Assembly: In a generous mixing bowl, combine chopped vegetables with shredded cheddar, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and crumbled bacon, creating a vibrant and textured base.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl until the mixture transforms into a silky, well-integrated sauce.
- Flavor Fusion: Gently drizzle the dressing over the salad, using delicate folding techniques to thoroughly coat each ingredient without compromising their structural integrity, ensuring a harmonious flavor profile.
- Chilling and Serving: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and intensify. Just before serving, give a final gentle toss to revive the salad’s texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Prep Vegetables Thoroughly: Rinse broccoli and cauliflower meticulously to remove all dirt, then pat completely dry to prevent watery salad and ensure crisp texture.
- Balance Flavor Layers: Distribute cheese, onions, cranberries, seeds, and bacon evenly to create a perfect bite with balanced taste and textural contrast.
- Whisk Dressing Smoothly: Combine mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper with vigorous whisking to create a creamy, well-integrated sauce that coats ingredients uniformly.
- Marinate for Maximum Taste: Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing flavors to meld and develop deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg