Broccoli Apple Salad Recipe

This crunchy and colorful Healthy Broccoli Apple Salad is a breeze to make and is perfect for your fall or holiday table. It's great for picnics and potlucks too. Make it using a few simple ingredients using my easy recipe (paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, can be easily made vegan).

3.86 from 7 votes

Broccoli Apple Salad Recipe

This crunchy and colorful Broccoli Apple Salad is a breeze to make and is perfect for your fall or holiday table. It's great for picnics and potlucks too. Make it using a few simple ingredients using my easy recipe.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Chilling Time2

Total Time2 20

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Servings: people

Author: Neha Mathur

Ingredients

For The Salad

12 ounces broccoli
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups cored and diced apples
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chopped onions
½ cup diced carrots
½ cup chopped roasted pecans

For The Dressing

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey use maple syrup for vegan
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon feshly cracked black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Wash the head of broccoli and cut it into small, bite-size florets.
Bring a medium-sized pot of water to boil over medium-high heat.
Add 1 teaspoon salt and broccoli florets to the boiling water. Press down the florets gently with a spatula.
Cook for 2 minutes. Do not overcook or the broccoli will become mushy.
While the broccoli is cooking, keep a large bowl full of ice-cold water ready.
Drain the water and transfer the broccoli to the bowl of ice water so the ice-cold water can stop the cooking.
Let the broccoli rest in ice-cold water for 2 minutes. Then drain and set aside.
Mix the dressing ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Add the salad ingredients including the blanched broccoli to the bowl and toss everything well.
Chill the salad for 1-2 hours and serve cold.

Video

Notes

This salad must be refrigerated for 1-2 hours for the flavors to marry. It stays fresh for 18-24 hours in the refrigerator. After that, it will wilt, and the taste will change.

Use sweet red apples like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, as they are sweet and juicy and taste great in this salad. You can also use green apples if you like their sour taste. You don’t have to peel the apples for this salad.

You can also add cheese, such as blue cheese or feta, to the salad, as they pair beautifully with the other ingredients.

Nutrition