Description
A vibrant and crunchy broccoli salad featuring fresh broccoli, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and Manchego cheese, all tossed in a tangy lemon and Dijon mustard dressing. Perfect as a refreshing side dish or light lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons minced shallots
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1 lb broccoli (chopped into bite size pieces)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup Manchego cheese (diced; or sharp cheddar, feta, etc.)
- 1/4 cup toasted almonds (chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, minced shallots, Dijon mustard, and honey until well combined.
- Incorporate the oil: Slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil while whisking continuously until the dressing emulsifies and thickens slightly.
- Season the dressing: Add kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste, adjusting the flavor according to your preference.
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the chopped broccoli, dried cranberries, diced Manchego cheese, and toasted almonds.
- Toss with dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well to ensure everything is evenly coated.
- Rest the salad (optional): Let the salad sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to a day; the dressing may firm up in the fridge, so toss again before serving.
- Substitute Manchego cheese with sharp cheddar, feta, or your preferred salty cheese for variety.
- For added texture, you may include sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds along with the toasted almonds.
- If you prefer a dairy-free version, omit the cheese and increase nuts or seeds for richness.
- Adjust the honey for sweetness depending on the tartness of the lemon juice and vinegar used.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 79 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
