Zingy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo) Recipe

Creamy broccoli salad enhances ordinary vegetables into a delightful culinary experience that surprises and delights taste buds.

Fresh green florets combine with unexpected ingredients to create a vibrant, nutritious dish.

Crunchy textures and rich flavors dance together in a harmonious blend that challenges traditional salad expectations.

Health-conscious individuals will appreciate this innovative approach to enjoying vegetables without heavy, calorie-laden dressings.

Crisp and tangy elements intermingle, offering a refreshing alternative to standard side dishes.

The recipe promises a light yet satisfying meal that feels both indulgent and wholesome.

Nutrition meets pleasure in this cleverly crafted salad that challenges everything you thought you knew about vegetable-based dishes.

What Makes Creamy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!) So Special

• Boost Nutrition Effortlessly: This broccoli salad packs a powerful punch of vitamins and minerals from fresh vegetables, nuts, and protein-rich Greek yogurt, making healthy eating deliciously simple.
• Creamy without the Guilt: By swapping traditional mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, you get a luscious, tangy dressing that's lower in calories and higher in protein, perfect for health-conscious food lovers.
• Texture Party in Every Bite: The combination of crunchy broccoli, crisp carrots, soft dates, and nutty pistachios creates an exciting mix of textures that keeps your taste buds entertained throughout the meal.
• Super Quick and No-Fuss Prep: This recipe requires minimal cooking, takes less than 15 minutes to assemble, and can be made ahead of time, making it ideal for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Creamy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!)

• Broccoli Florets: Fresh and crisp green vegetable that forms the base of the salad, packed with nutrients and a slightly crunchy texture.
• Carrots: Adds natural sweetness and vibrant orange color, providing extra crunch and nutritional boost.
• Red Onion: Sharp and tangy ingredient that brings a zesty flavor and beautiful purple accent to the salad.

• Pistachios: Creamy and crunchy nuts that offer a rich, nutty flavor and provide healthy fats.
• Dates: Sweet and chewy dried fruit that adds natural sweetness and contrasting texture to the salad.

• Greek Yogurt, Honey, Olive Oil, Water, Sea Salt: Creamy base that creates a smooth, tangy dressing with balanced sweetness and subtle seasoning, binding all ingredients together without using traditional mayonnaise.

How to Make Creamy Broccoli Salad Without Mayo

Step 1: Whip Up Creamy Dressing

In a separate bowl, blend smooth Greek yogurt with golden honey, rich olive oil, cool water, and a pinch of sea salt. Whisk the ingredients until they transform into a silky, luscious dressing.

• Greek yogurt
• Honey
• Olive oil
• Water
• Sea salt

Step 2: Combine And Coat

Pour the velvety dressing over the vegetable and nut mixture. Toss thoroughly, ensuring every morsel gets a generous coating of the tangy, sweet sauce.

Step 3: Chill And Serve

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This resting time allows the flavors to mingle and intensify, creating a refreshing and delightful side dish perfect for any meal.

Tips for Getting That Perfect Creamy Texture Without Mayo

• Chop Broccoli Precisely: Cut florets into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even coating and consistent texture throughout the salad.
• Massage Dressing Thoroughly: Gently mix the yogurt dressing into the vegetables, ensuring every ingredient gets perfectly coated for maximum flavor absorption.
• Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.
• Toast Nuts Quickly: Lightly toast pistachios in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the salad.
• Slice Onions Thinly: Use a sharp knife to create paper-thin red onion slices, which distribute more evenly and provide a subtle, sharp accent to the creamy base.

Storage Instructions for Creamy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!)

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping the salad crisp and fresh in the coldest part of your refrigerator.
• Texture Preservation: Drain any excess liquid before storing to prevent soggy broccoli and maintain the salad's delightful crunch.
• Reheating Tip: Enjoy this salad cold for the best flavor and texture, as reheating may cause the yogurt to separate and vegetables to lose their crisp texture.

What to Serve with Creamy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!)

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio complements the creamy yogurt dressing and cuts through the nutty, sweet flavors of pistachios and dates.
• Match with Grilled Protein: Serve alongside lemon-herb chicken or grilled salmon to balance the salad's cool, tangy profile and add protein-rich depth to the meal.
• Boost with Crunchy Bread: Toasted sourdough or whole grain ciabatta slices provide a perfect textural contrast to the soft broccoli and creamy yogurt dressing.
• Enhance with Herbal Cocktail: A light gin-based cocktail with fresh mint or basil creates a refreshing companion that echoes the salad's bright, fresh ingredients.

Creative Variations on Creamy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!)

• Vegan Green Medley: Replace Greek yogurt with cashew cream and use maple syrup instead of honey for a plant-based version that keeps the creamy texture and sweet undertones.
• Herb-Infused Crunch: Add fresh chopped herbs like dill, parsley, or basil to the dressing for an extra layer of brightness and aromatic complexity to the salad.
• Protein Power Bowl: Incorporate cooked quinoa or chickpeas to transform the salad into a more substantial meal with added protein and nutritional value.
• Spicy Mediterranean Mix: Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes and add crumbled feta cheese to introduce a zesty and tangy element that elevates the overall flavor profile.

Creamy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!) Recipe

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4.5 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Creamy broccoli salad delivers a refreshing twist on classic summer sides without mayo’s heaviness. Greek yogurt blends perfectly with crisp broccoli, creating a light and tangy dish you’ll crave at picnics and potlucks.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) broccoli florets – cut into small bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup (140 grams) carrots – shredded
• ½ cup (80 grams) red onion – diced
• ½ cup (60 grams) pistachios – loosely chopped
• 5 large dates – pitted and diced

Dressing Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup (160 milliliters) Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon (21 grams) honey
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water

Seasoning:

• ¼ teaspoon (1 gram) sea salt

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Instructions

1. Chop broccoli into bite-sized florets, ensuring uniform pieces for consistent texture and even coating.
2. Dice carrots and red onion into thin, delicate slivers that will complement the broccoli’s robust structure.
3. Roughly chop pistachios to release their nutty essence and create appealing crunch throughout the salad.
4. Slice dates into small, sweet morsels that will provide unexpected bursts of caramel-like flavor.
5. Combine all prepared vegetables, nuts, and dried fruit in a spacious mixing vessel, gently intermingling the ingredients.
6. Craft a velvety dressing by whisking Greek yogurt with golden honey, creating a smooth and tangy base.
7. Incorporate olive oil and water into the yogurt mixture, blending until the consistency becomes silky and uniform.
8. Season the dressing with a pinch of sea salt to enhance and balance the overall flavor profile.
9. Drizzle the creamy dressing over the vegetable mixture, carefully folding to ensure each ingredient is lavishly coated.
10. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to chill thoroughly before serving.

Notes

• Boost nutrition by keeping broccoli crunchy and raw, preserving maximum vitamins and minerals.
• Quick 15-minute recipe requires zero cooking, perfect for busy weeknight meals or meal prep.
• Creamy dressing uses Greek yogurt instead of traditional mayo, cutting calories and adding protein.
• Natural sweetness from dates balances tangy yogurt, creating complex flavor profile without refined sugars.
• Pistachios provide satisfying crunch and heart-healthy fats, making this salad both delicious and nutritious.
• Prepare ahead and refrigerate to let flavors meld, enhancing overall taste and texture of the salad.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 50mg
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 15g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 5mg