Contents
- 1 A Salad That Surprised Me
- 2 Why This Mix Works
- 3 Let’s Make the Dressing
- 4 Tossing It All Together
- 5 A Little Secret for You
- 6 Your Turn in the Kitchen
- 7 Ingredients:
- 8 My Favorite Crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad
- 9 Let’s Mix It Up!
- 10 Serving Your Masterpiece
- 11 Keeping Your Salad Fresh and Tasty
- 12 Simple Fixes for Common Salad Problems
- 13 Your Quick Questions, Answered
- 14 Until Next Time, My Friend
- 15 Broccoli Apple Salad with Creamy Homemade Dressing
A Salad That Surprised Me
I first made this salad for a family picnic. My grandson Leo made a funny face. He said he only liked broccoli with cheese.
He tried one small bite. Then he took a bigger one. He asked for a whole bowl for himself. I still laugh at that.
Why This Mix Works
The broccoli gives a nice crunch. The apple adds a sweet surprise. The creamy dressing ties it all together.
This matters because food should be a joy. Mixing textures and tastes makes eating fun. It turns a simple side into a little adventure.
Let’s Make the Dressing
Just whisk everything in a bowl. The sour cream makes it tangy. The sugar balances the vinegar.
Give it a taste. What do you think? I always add a tiny bit more pepper. Doesn’t that smell amazing?
Tossing It All Together
Use a big, big bowl. You need room to stir. Pour that creamy dressing over everything.
Mix it gently with a spoon. Make sure every piece gets a little love. This is the best part.
A Little Secret for You
*Fun fact*: Broccoli is a flower. Those little green trees are actually tiny flower buds. Isn’t that neat?
This matters because knowing your food is wonderful. It connects you to the earth. It makes cooking feel special.
Your Turn in the Kitchen
What is your favorite picnic food? Do you have a food you thought you hated but now love? Tell me about it.
I love hearing your stories. They remind me of my own kitchen adventures. Now, go make some of your own.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mayonnaise | ¾ cup | |
| Sour cream | ⅓ cup | |
| Apple cider vinegar | 3 tablespoons | |
| Granulated sugar | 2 tablespoons | |
| Kosher salt | ½ teaspoon | |
| Fresh cracked black pepper | ½ teaspoon | |
| Broccoli florets | 4 cups | broken into bite-size pieces (2 medium-size bunches) |
| Gala apples | 2 medium | cored and diced |
| Matchstick carrots | ¾ cup | |
| Pecans | ⅔ cup | chopped |
| Cranberries | ½ cup | chopped |
| Red onion | ⅓ cup | finely diced |
My Favorite Crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad
I have always loved a salad with a good crunch. This one reminds me of my friend Betty. She brought it to a church potluck years ago. I had to have the recipe right away. It is a perfect mix of sweet and savory. The creamy dressing makes everything taste like a happy family.
You can make this in no time at all. It is wonderful for a busy weeknight. It also shines at a big family gathering. The colors are so cheerful in a bowl. Doesn’t that just make you smile?
Step 1: Let’s make our creamy dressing first. Grab a medium bowl and a whisk. Put in the mayonnaise, sour cream, and apple cider vinegar. Add the sugar, salt, and pepper too. Whisk it all until it is smooth and dreamy. I still laugh at the time I used salt instead of sugar. What a mess that was!
Step 2: Now for the fun part, the salad! Use your biggest bowl for this. Put in the broccoli florets and the diced apples. Then add the matchstick carrots and chopped pecans. Don’t forget the cranberries and the red onion. (A hard-learned tip: chop the red onion very fine. It gives you flavor without a big, sharp bite.)
Step 3: Pour that lovely dressing right over the top. Use a big wooden spoon to stir it all up. Make sure every piece gets a little coat. Then pop the whole bowl into the fridge. It gets even better after it chills for a bit. What’s your favorite crunchy thing to add to a salad? Share below!
Cook Time: 20min
Total Time: 25mins
Yield: 8 servings
Category: Salad, Side Dish
Let’s Mix It Up!
Recipes are like good stories. You can tell them a little differently each time. I love playing with this salad. It is so happy to welcome new friends. Here are a few fun twists I have tried in my own kitchen.
Sunflower Crunch: Swap the pecans for salted sunflower seeds. It gives a wonderful salty crunch.
Apple Swap: Try using a crisp green apple instead. It is a bit more tart and very refreshing.
Bacon Bliss: For a special treat, add some cooked, crumbled bacon. Everything is better with a little bacon, I think.
Which one would you try first? Comment below!
Serving Your Masterpiece
This salad is a wonderful sidekick. It goes with almost anything you pull from the oven. I love it next to a simple roasted chicken. The juices from the chicken taste so good with the salad. It is also perfect with a grilled cheese sandwich for a quick lunch.
For a drink, a glass of cold iced tea is just right. The lemon in the tea is so nice with the apples. If you are having a celebration, a crisp glass of white wine works beautifully. It feels a little fancy. Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Salad Fresh and Tasty
This salad loves a cool fridge. Keep it in a sealed container. It stays fresh for up to three days.
I do not recommend freezing this one. The broccoli gets too soft. The apples lose their happy crunch.
I once made a big batch for a picnic. It rained, so we ate it all week. It was still so good. This is why batch cooking matters. It gives you more time for fun things.
You can mix the dressing ahead of time. Just pour it over the salad before you eat. This keeps everything crisp and perfect. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Simple Fixes for Common Salad Problems
Sometimes the broccoli seems too hard. Just chop the florets very small. This makes them easier to eat and enjoy.
I remember when my apples turned brown. A little lemon juice stops that. Toss your diced apples in it first. This matters because we eat with our eyes first.
Is the dressing too thick for you? Add a splash of milk. Stir it in until it looks right. Getting the flavor right builds your cooking confidence.
*Fun fact: Broccoli is a flower! We eat the unopened buds.* Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Quick Questions, Answered
Q: Is this salad gluten-free? A: Yes, it is! All the ingredients are naturally safe.
Q: Can I make it ahead? A: You can make it a few hours early. It gets better as it chills.
Q: What can I swap? A: Use walnuts for pecans. Use raisins for cranberries. Make it your own.
Q: Can I make a smaller portion? A: Of course! Just cut all the ingredients in half.
Q: Any optional add-ins? A: A sprinkle of sunflower seeds is lovely. They add a nice little crunch. Which tip will you try first?
Until Next Time, My Friend
I hope you love this crunchy, sweet salad. It always brings a smile to my table. I would love to see your creation.
Share a picture with all your friends. It might become their new favorite too. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!
Happy cooking!
—Elowen Thorn.
Broccoli Apple Salad with Creamy Homemade Dressing
Description
This broccoli apple salad mixes sweet apples and fresh broccoli in a creamy, homemade dressing. Make it fast for potlucks, dinners, or any busy day.
Ingredients
=== Dressing ===
=== Salad ===
Instructions
- === Dressing === Using a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, and pepper until smooth. Set it aside.
- === Salad === Using an extra-large mixing bowl, add the broccoli florets, diced apple, carrots, pecans, cranberries, and red onion.
- Pour the dressing over the salad, and using a wooden spoon, stir the salad to coat the vegetables thoroughly. Keep the salad in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.