Description
A vibrant and refreshing Broccoli Crunch Salad featuring fresh bite-sized broccoli florets, sweet dried cranberries, salty Manchego cheese, and toasted almonds all tossed in a tangy lemon and Dijon mustard dressing. Perfect as a healthy side or light lunch, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons minced shallots
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1 lb broccoli (chopped into bite size pieces)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup Manchego cheese (diced; or sharp cheddar, feta, etc.)
- 1/4 cup toasted almonds (chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, minced shallots, Dijon mustard, and honey until well combined. Slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil while continuously whisking to emulsify the dressing. Season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the chopped broccoli, dried cranberries, diced Manchego cheese, and toasted almonds.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to coat everything evenly. Use all the dressing for maximum flavor.
- Rest and serve: Allow the salad to sit for a few minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together, though this step is optional.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to a day; toss again before serving.
- If Manchego cheese is unavailable, substitute with sharp cheddar or feta cheese for a similar salty flavor.
- To toast almonds, heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- You can add sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for extra crunch if desired.
- Adjust the amount of honey in the dressing to control sweetness according to your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 79 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
