Broccoli Salad – never had it until a few months ago. Came home and Googled it to find a recipe. Found several recipes, tried a few versions and ended up with my favorite. Of course, there are options to add (all of them are good) or keep it a little more plain (as shown above). This is one tasty salad!

I first made this broccoli salad to take for Easter. I bought a 2# bag of broccoli florets and BAM! It was delicious! The first batch I did not drop in boiling water for 1 minute/then cool/dry, etc. The second batch I did (as shown below) – I used 2- 12 oz bags of broccoli flowerets and stored each in a glass storage container. This is pulled out of the fridge after we ate because I forgot to take the photo! 🤦‍♀️ #thiskeepshappening

This is a very flavorful salad, that will leave you craving broccoli (#believeitornot). Delicious as it is or with a little extra sweetness (raisins). I haven’t added crispy, cooked bacon on top because I don’t want to like it – but it’s an option.

To cook beforehand or not? After dropping the broccoli in boiling water and pulling it out starting at 45 seconds and dropping into a bowl of ice water – then transferring the broccoli to a salad spinner to help dry it, and THEN drying it with paper towels and setting out on a clean kitchen towel to get any residual moisture off of it. That’s a lot of work to go through to have it turn out a little soggy. So save yourself time, dirty dishes, paper towels, etc. and just use it fresh! I much prefer the cRuNcH of fresh broccoli. Day 2 the cooked broccoli made the cheese soggy and that was unfortunate.

It’s so simple.

Here’s the sticky note version:

📒 BROCCOLI SALAD

• 2-12 oz. bags of broccoli florets (pre-washed) (not the stems)

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup mayo (Hellman’s)
• 1/2-3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• handful of raisins (small organic raisins are best!)
• S & P
• Bacon, cooked and crispy, sprinkled over top (Optional)

Mix the dressing together, add the broccoli – stir until the broccoli is coated with dressing. Add the cheese, and fold until mixed. Salt and pepper, raisins if you’re adding. Refrigerate and serve (top with bacon if using)… Tada!

Note: for additional sweetness you can add sugar or more honey, but I think 1T of honey makes it plenty sweet – or omit all honey/sugar and just add a few raisins!

It keeps for several days in the fridge.

✍️ Until next time…