~Amanda~
I always love making a big, delicious, and healthy salad on a Sunday afternoon that we can enjoy with dinner that night, but also to have in the fridge to bring with lunches during the week. This Broccoli, Apple, and Almond Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette is one of my favorites. I first discovered it when I was doing the Whole 30 last fall. It was a great paleo recipe that was easy to make and so satisfying. After finishing the Whole 30, I made a few tweeks to the recipe since it doesn’t have to be perfectly paleo anymore (hello dijon!) and it’s pretty much perfect now. The combination of broccoli with delicious fruits, nuts, and an awesome vinaigrette makes eating your fruits and veggies actually enjoyable!
Broccoli has never really been my favorite, but in this salad, it’s actually pretty awesome. I like to slightly cook the broccoli by boiling it for just a minute (literally, just one minute). It brings out the vibrant green color, but you still get a nice bite to it since you’re not cooking it for too long. I definitely prefer a nice, crisp bite to my broccoli, none of that soft steamed stuff. I then like to add a few other ingredients that I think really complement the broccoli wonderfully. Some crisp red apples add more great texture to the salad. Blueberries add some sweetness. Olives add that tangy and briney flavor – I know there are those of you out there who hate olives, I was one of them until just a few years ago when I suddenly started loving them (so weird how that happens). But if you still hate them, just omit them, no big deal. For a little more sweetness, I love the addition of some dried cranberries. And finally, some almonds. I love having that nutty flavor and bite they bring.
The final step is to make the dijon vinaigrette. This is really quick and simple, and packs so much flavor that really complements all the ingredients in the salad. To make it, combine garlic, lime juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, honey, and salt and pepper. Then pour the dressing over the salad and toss it all together. That’s it, now you have a tasty salad that will go great as a side to all your favorite summer meals – think burgers, brats, grilled BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, anything! Not to mention, it’s super healthy and a great way to get in those servings of fruits and veggies while completely loving what you’re eating! Enjoy!
- 1 large head broccoli, chopped
- 1 large apple, diced
- ¾ cup almonds
- ½ cup olives (your favorite, I do a combo of black and green)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 limes, juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water on the side.
- Add the broccoli to the boiling water and boil for 1 minute until bright green. Immediately transfer broccoli to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. After it has cooled, place on a plate and pat dry with a paper towel.
- In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, diced apple, almonds, olives, dried cranberries, and blueberries.
- Make the vinaigrette by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Pour vinaigrette over broccoli salad and gently toss to combine.
- Enjoy!
