Broccoli salad without bacon is a crisp, fresh, and subtly sweet vegetable salad with a tangy dressing. Not only is this an easy side dish, but it utilizes the whole vegetable, including the stems.
Chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Remove the tough ends at the bottom of the stems and the leaves, then use a vegetable peeler to peel off the outer woody layer of the stems before cutting them into small pieces.
Make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and cold water. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add in the broccoli florets and stems. Boil for 2 minutes and then remove from the heat. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the broccoli to your ice-cold water bath carefully. This helps stop the broccoli from continuing to cook and helps retain its color and texture.
After 2-3 minutes, drain the broccoli as thoroughly as possible, then add it to a large bowl with the dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and diced shallot.
Add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk together until combined. Taste and add more salt as needed. Pour the dressing over your salad and mix thoroughly.
Store covered in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
See the blog post for helpful tips.
Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations
No shallots? - you can also use thinly sliced red onion, sweet onion, red onion, or even green onions.No sunflower seeds? - you can use just about any other nut or seed, alone or in combination with another. If using whole nuts, roughly chop them first.No dried cranberries? - use raisins, dried cherries, currants, or dried blueberries.No white wine vinegar? - you can also use champagne vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even lemon juice.No raw honey? - use maple syrup instead.Add-ins - crispy bacon bits or crispy prosciutto.Variations - use a different dressing such as spicy honey mustard or poppy seed dressing.