Description
A vibrant and crunchy broccoli salad featuring fresh broccoli, dried cranberries, tangy lemon dressing, toasted almonds, and savory Manchego cheese for a refreshing, flavorful dish that's perfect for a quick side 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 pound 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
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, minced shallots, Dijon mustard, and honey. Slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil while whisking continuously until the dressing emulsifies and becomes smooth. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Prepare the salad: In a large bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, dried cranberries, diced Manchego cheese, and toasted chopped almonds. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Let flavors meld: Optionally, allow the salad to sit for a few minutes before serving to enable the flavors to blend and mellow for a better taste experience.
Notes
- Letting the salad sit before serving helps the dressing fully seep into the broccoli and other ingredients.
- Substitute Manchego cheese with sharp cheddar, feta, or your favorite salty cheese for different flavor profiles.
- To add extra crunch, consider adding toasted seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- For a dairy-free version, omit the cheese or use plant-based alternatives.
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
