A salad with broccoli and apple combines crunchy, nutritious veggies with the sweetness of fruit, making for a refreshing and balanced dish. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 medium apple (any variety you prefer), cored and thinly sliced or diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions:
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Prepare the Broccoli: Steam the broccoli florets for 2-3 minutes until they are bright green and slightly tender but still crisp. Alternatively, you can blanch them in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. After steaming, immediately transfer the broccoli to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and pat dry.
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Prepare the Apple and Other Ingredients: While the broccoli is cooling, slice or dice the apple and thinly slice the red onion. If you’re using dried cranberries or raisins, chop them if they’re large. Chop the nuts if they’re not already chopped.
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Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
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Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the steamed broccoli, apple slices, red onion, dried cranberries or raisins, and nuts. Add the crumbled cheese if you’re using it.
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Dress the Salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
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Serve: Enjoy your salad immediately, or chill it for a bit to let the flavors meld together.
This salad is versatile, so feel free to adjust ingredients to your taste or add extras like grilled chicken or avocado for a more substantial meal.
