Description
Honeycrisp apple broccoli salad brings crisp flavors dancing across fresh summer plates. Crunchy broccoli florets mingle with sweet apples, creating a light meal that keeps you craving more seasonal goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce:
- 4 cups broccoli florets, chopped
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
Nuts and Dried Fruits:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Dairy and Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the base by chopping broccoli into bite-sized florets and dicing Honeycrisp apple into uniform cubes.
- Add dried cranberries, roughly chopped pecans, thinly sliced red onion, and optional shredded cheddar to the chopped ingredients.
- Create a creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, tangy apple cider vinegar, sweet honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper until fully incorporated.
- Drizzle the dressing over the vegetable and fruit mixture, gently tossing to ensure even coating and distribution of flavors.
- Refrigerate the salad for 30-45 minutes, allowing the ingredients to marinate and develop a harmonious blend of tastes and textures.
- Before serving, give the salad a final gentle stir to redistribute the dressing and ingredients, ensuring each bite is perfectly balanced.
Notes
- Swap mayo for Greek yogurt to create a lighter, protein-packed version that reduces calories and adds tanginess.
- Toast pecans briefly in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty flavor and create a more complex texture in the salad.
- Use raw honey from local sources for a more robust, authentic sweetness that supports local beekeepers and provides potential allergy benefits.
- Prepare salad just before serving to maintain the crisp texture of broccoli and prevent soggy ingredients, ensuring maximum freshness and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 262 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg