Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad Ingredients

Here is what makes up this simple salad. For the full recipe, scroll to the recipe card below.

• Broccoli: Fresh and crisp, raw broccoli florets provide a hearty base with a slightly bitter and earthy flavor that pairs well with the other sweet and tangy ingredients.
• Red grapes: Add a burst of sweetness and juiciness to the salad
• Chopped walnuts: Add a satisfying crunch and a rich, nutty taste. Chop them finely. You could use other nuts here like sliced almonds or chopped pecans.
• Red onion: Offers a sharp flavor that contrasts with the sweet grapes and tangy dressing.
• Mayonnaise: Serves as the creamy base for the dressing, bringing all the ingredients together. It adds a smooth texture and a mild, rich flavor that coats the broccoli. I always go with light mayo, but regular will work as well.
• Red wine vinegar: A tangy acidity that cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise in the creamy dressing.
• Sugar: Enhances the sweetness of the grapes and balances the acidity of the vinegar.
• Kosher Salt: If you use table salt, cut the amount in half.

How to Make Broccoli Salad

Here is a brief overview of how this recipe for broccoli salad comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Combine salad ingredients. Combine the cut broccoli, grapes, walnuts, and red onion in a large mixing bowl.
• Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt until fully combined.
• Put it all together. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss to combine.

Raw Broccoli

The broccoli stays raw in this recipe so fresh broccoli is the only option. Frozen broccoli is partially cooked and won’t work in this recipe. Select fresh, vibrant green broccoli heads with firm stalks. Avoid any that look wilted or have yellowing florets. Cut the florets into small bite-sized pieces.

The dressing softens the broccoli just slightly so it doesn’t seem like you are eating raw veggies. If you want the broccoli to soften even more, make this salad the day before you plan to serve it so that it will have more time in the dressing.