You'll love this Healthy Broccoli Salad recipe with a sweet citrus salad dressing. Eating healthy is easy with this delicious and filling broccoli salad. The crunch of the broccoli and the creaminess of the dressing make this salad irresistible!
Using fresh ingredients, and leaving out the sugar and mayo (usually found in packaged broccoli salad recipes) means you can enjoy the taste, without the added calories.
About This Recipe
Don't you hate it when you eat something that's supposed to be healthy (like broccoli salad) but don't reap the health benefits because of added sugars and gobs of mayonnaise that are added?
Almost always the extra calories are in the dressing. That's why making your own dressing is definitely the way to go!
When I want to control extra added sugars found in many salad dressings, I use my Citrus Salad Dressing instead. The sweet and tangy flavors pair perfectly with broccoli.
Prefer your salad sweeter? Feel free to add an additional packet of Truvia. Or alternatively, you can add more honey to the dressing before mixing it in with the salad.
How to Make This Recipe
1. Rinse broccoli and drain then chop into bite-size pieces. Add to a medium-sized bowl.
2. Remove seeds from half a pomegranate and stir into the broccoli. Next, add diced onion, Craisins, pumpkin seeds, and gorgonzola cheese.
3. To make the broccoli salad dressing, whisk the citrus dressing ingredients in a small bowl and taste to see if it needs the salt and pepper. Pour over the salad ingredients in a small bowl and taste to see if the salt and pepper need adjusting.
4. Add bacon, toss, and serve immediately. This Broccoli Salad Recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container until you're ready to serve it.
The Health Benefits of Broccoli
Broccoli is known for its numerous health benefits. It is loaded with vitamins, especially C and K. It also a good source of fiber, which not only aids in digestion but can also help lower cholesterol levels. Let's take a quick look at the nutrition value of one cup of raw broccoli.
- Calories: 31
- Potassium: 288 mg
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2.4 g
- Sugar: 1.5
- Vitamin A: 11%
- Calcium: 4%
- Vitamin C: 135%
- Iron: 3%
- Vitamin B-6: 10%
- Magnesium: 4%
*Based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Broccoli Salad Ingredients
So what can take this Healthy Broccoli Salad to a whole new level? BACON! Of course, if you are a vegetarian, you can leave it out and
If, however, you appreciate deliciously crispy bacon, just mix-in four crumbled bacon strips into the salad before serving.
Since this recipe yields four servings, that's one strip per person. That's how we can still get away with calling it "Healthy Broccoli Salad."
Roasted Broccoli Salad
Yet another idea for this broccoli salad is to roast the broccoli before tossing it in with the other ingredients.
If you've never had roasted broccoli, you don't know what you're missing!
Roasting the broccoli brings out a sweeter, intense flavor. The end result is tender broccoli florets with crispy, browned edges.
If you prefer a crunchy texture, you can skip this suggestion. To learn more about roasting broccoli, check out this link.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Grapes are just one example of what can be added to this recipe, especially if pomegranates are not in season. Also try apples and pears.
- If you don't like blue cheese, try feta or goat cheese.
- Although I used pumpkin seeds, the nut or seed options are truly endless. Some examples include pistachios, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
- Don't like onions? Leave them out, or leave them on the side as an add-in option.
- Not a fan of dried cranberries? Add raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots instead.
- Increase the protein by adding diced grilled chicken to the broccoli salad.
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Healthy Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- ½ medium pomegranate
- ¼ cup red onion (chopped)
- 3 tablespoon Craisins
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (peeled)
- ¼ cup Gorgonzola cheese (crumbled)
- ⅓ cup citrus salad dressing
¼ teaspoon salt (optional)- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- 4 slices crispy crumbled bacon (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse broccoli and drain then chop into bite-size pieces. Add to a medium-sized bowl.
- Remove seeds from half a pomegranate and stir into the broccoli. Next, add diced onion, Craisins, pumpkin seeds, and gorgonzola cheese.
- To make the broccoli salad dressing, whisk the citrus dressing ingredients in a small bowl and taste to see if it needs the salt and pepper. Pour over the salad ingredients in a small bowl and taste to see if the salt and pepper need adjusting.
- Add bacon, toss, and serve immediately. This Broccoli Salad Recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container until you're ready to serve it.
Notes
- Grapes are just one example of what can be added to this recipe, especially if pomegranates are not in season. Also try apples and pears.
- If you don't like blue cheese, try feta or goat cheese.
- Although I used pumpkin seeds, the nut or seed options are truly endless. Some examples include pistachios, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
- Don't like onions? Leave them out, or leave them on the side as an add-in option.
- Not a fan of dried cranberries? Add raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots instead.
- Increase the protein by adding diced grilled chicken to the broccoli salad.
Becca Smith says
I'm making this tonight. Sounds and looks delicious. I love the idea of adding bacon and substituting the blue cheese for feta. I'm impressed with your blog!
HildaSterner says
Thanks, Becca! Looking forward to hearing what you think! ?