Fresh Broccoli Salad Recipe – With Video

ByLaRee Colburn

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This fresh broccoli salad recipe is my family’s favorite broccoli salad recipe, especially during the summertime.  Crisp fresh broccoli and green onions from the garden, paired with chewy raisins, crunchy nuts and a creamy dressing make the perfect summer salad.  Since broccoli can be grown when it’s cool outside, we plant it early in the springtime and it’s one of the first vegetables that we harvest from the garden.  Having a fresh salad after eating mainly canned or frozen vegetables all summer long is always exciting.  This salad is also great made with the side shoots we harvest from the broccoli plants all summer long.

We all know that broccoli is known for its cancer fighting properties and is a healthy food.  Eating it raw in this salad made with a simple mayonnaise-based dressing is a great way to make sure you’re getting enough broccoli in your diet.

broccoli salad closeup with onions

To learn how to grow your own broccoli from seed to harvest, click here.

bowl of broccoli salad with raisins

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Crisp texture – this salad stands out to me because of its amazing texture.  The fresh crunch of the broccoli, along with the chewy raisins is my favorite combination
  • Contrasting flavors – the green onions and broccoli pair so well with the sweetness of the raisins and the tangy dressing, making it a delightful blend of flavors
  • Simplicity – I usually have the few ingredients on hand that are needed to make this salad, so I can throw it together quickly without having to plan ahead
  • Perfect Side Dish – this classic broccoli salad recipe is one of our favorite side dishes for backyard cookouts, especially during the summer.  Serve alongside burgers or baked beans, and you have a delicious meal.

Salad Ingredients

  • Fresh raw broccoli – broccoli is so good when it comes straight from the garden in the spring and early summer, so that is when we make this salad.  You can also make it with fresh broccoli purchased from the grocery store or farmers market.  2 to 3 broccoli heads are usually enough for this recipe.
  • Green onions – the onions in my garden are usually big enough that I can cut some of the tops as green onions by the time the broccoli is ready to harvest.  You can also use red onion or any other sweet onions in this salad and it will still have a nice mild flavor.
  • Raisins – they give a nice chewy texture to the salad.  You can also use dried cranberries in place of the raisins, but I usually have raisins on hand.
  • Nuts – I like to use pecans or sunflowers, but even walnuts will work to give the salad some extra crunch.
mixing up broccoli salad

Dressing Ingredients

  • Mayonnaise – you can make your own homemade mayo or miracle whip, or just use whatever you have in the refrigerator
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – I make my own apple cider vinegar from apple scraps every fall and it is so delicious.  You can also use white vinegar or red wine vinegar, but the flavor will be a little different.
  • Sweetener – you can use cane sugar, white sugar, honey or maple syrup in this easy broccoli salad recipe.
  • Smoked paprika – to give it a smoky bacon flavor
  • Salt – Redmond real salt is my favorite
  • Black Pepper – I purchase mine in bulk from Azure Standard

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here

Tools

Average Vegetable Production Chart:

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How To Make This Fresh Broccoli Salad Recipe

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and mix well using the large mixing spoon.

Using the cutting board and sharp knife, chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces and add it to the dressing.

chopping broccoli for broccoli salad

Cut the green onion into thin slices and add it to the broccoli mix, stirring gently.

Add the raisins and the nuts and stir well to combine.

adding nuts to broccoli salad

Serve alongside burgers, fish or your favorite cookout food.  

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

broccoli salad closeup with onions

Tips

  • To save on dishes, mix up the dressing in a large bowl first, and then add the other ingredients and toss.
  • If there’s a chance that you may have cabbage worms in your garden fresh broccoli, just soak them in cold water with some salt and the worms will come right out.
  • Use whatever kind of nuts you have on hand.  Pecans or sunflower kernels are my favorite.
  • If you don’t have garden fresh broccoli, you can purchase crisp broccoli florets in the grocery store and they’re usually already chopped.
  • Pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds make great additions to this salad.

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broccoli salad landscape

Fresh Broccoli Salad Recipe – With Video

This fresh broccoli salad recipe is my family's favorite broccoli salad recipe, especially during the summertime.  Crisp fresh broccoli and green onions from the garden, paired with chewy raisins, crunchy nuts and a creamy dressing make the perfect summer salad.  Since broccoli can be grown when it's cool outside, we plant it early in the springtime and it's one of the first vegetables that we harvest from the garden.  Having a fresh salad after eating mainly canned or frozen vegetables all summer long is always exciting.  This salad is also great made with the side shoots we harvest from the broccoli plants all summer long.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Serving Size 8 people

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Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes and homesteading tips from us every week!

Equipment

  • 1 sharp knife
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 measuring cups and spoons
  • 1 Large mixing/serving spoon

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sweetener
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 6-8 cups chopped broccoli, chopped
  • 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 2/3 cup nuts, chopped

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and mix well using the large mixing spoon.
  • Using the cutting board and sharp knife, chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces and add it to the dressing.
  • Cut the green onion into thin slices and add it to the broccoli mix, stirring gently.
  • Add the raisins and the nuts and stir well to combine.
  • Serve alongside burgers, fish or your favorite cookout food.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Notes

To save on dishes, mix up the dressing in a large bowl first, and then add the other ingredients and toss.
If there’s a chance that you may have cabbage worms in your garden fresh broccoli, just soak them in cold water with some salt and the worms will come right out.
Use whatever kind of nuts you have on hand.  Pecans or sunflower kernels are my favorite.
If you don’t have garden fresh broccoli, you can purchase crisp broccoli florets in the grocery store and they’re usually already chopped.
Pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds make great additions to this salad.

I'm a homeschool Mom of 5, living out my dreams of growing a simple, sustainable life on our Nebraska homestead. I'm passionate about gardening, preserving, cooking from scratch and baking with sourdough. I enjoy milking Jersey cows and making our own dairy products. Come along with me as I share with you the skills you'll need to be successful at homesteading and frugal living.

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