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Vegan Healthy Creamy Broccoli Salad

May 25, 2015

healthy creamy broccoli salad

It isn’t a barbecue in our house without some Creamy Broccoli Salad! Is broccoli salad a favorite in your home? If you’re not familiar with Creamy Broccoli Salad, it’s a slightly, sweet, tangy, creamy and perfectly crunchy, chopped salad filled with bright, Summer flavors.

Let’s step back a bit, traditional creamy broccoli salad is made with mayonnaise, bacon and a few other ingredients that have no place in a nutritious salad in my humble opinion. I mean, where is the salad line drawn? Is it still a salad if there’s a heap of mayonnaise, butter and gummy bearsΒ in it? Okay, I’m exaggerating a tad butΒ I like my salads healthy and will save the less than healthy servings for my huge sweet tooth and love of desserts!

creamy broccoli salad

It’s always cool being in a relationship with somebodyΒ from another country and culture, when J and IΒ first started going out, things I grew up loving wereΒ totally new to himΒ and some staples in his diet were completely new to me.Β When we moved in together, the first few months, I cooked staples for us that were such an integral part of my childhood (like Mac & Cheese, chocolate chip cookies and basically anything made with peanut butter – who knew Peanut Butter is such an American/Canada phenomenon?!?).Β 

And now, I’ve finally made J my favorite Creamy Broccoli Salad, albeit a bit healthier and more vegan than the one I grew up on. πŸ˜‰

ceara s kitchen

J was a bit skeptical when he came in the kitchen and saw me chopping up red onions, avocado and a mountain of broccoli. The skepticism increasingly grew asΒ I started throwing raisinsΒ into our salad and then a heap of sunflower seeds, ha!

And then I served the salad and we all had THREE servings. The entireΒ Creamy Broccoli Salad disappeared within a couple of hours of making it.Β #YesPlease #BringOnTheBroccoli

Can we all agree it’s a good signΒ when your loved ones want extra helpingsΒ of salad? That’s what I call veggies done right! πŸ˜‰Β 

the sunflower seeds

Healthy Creamy Broccoli Salad
 
Print
Prep time
25 mins
Total time
25 mins
 
It isn't a barbecue in our house without some Creamy Broccoli Salad. Broccoli salad is a slightly, sweet, tangy, creamy and perfectly crunchy, chopped salad filled with bright, Summer flavors. This salad tastes even better the next day after marinating in the fridge for a few hours.
Author: Ceara
Recipe type: Side
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
Salad
  • 2 heads broccoli, chopped (9 cups broccoli florets)
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • ¾ cup red onion, chopped
  • ¾ cup raisins
  • ½ cup roasted sunflower seeds (unsalted)
Dressing
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ tsp dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp coconut or cane sugar
  • 2 - 3 splashes hot sauce (to taste)
Garnish
  • Parsley
  • Sunflower Seeds
Directions
  1. Prepare the vegetables: Chop broccoli into bite size pieces, finely chop the avocado and red onion. Add the chopped broccoli, red onion and avocado along with the raisins and sunflower seeds to a large bowl.
  2. Make the dressing: Add all of the ingredients for the dressing (avocado through to hot sauce to a blender). Blend until smooth and creamy (it will take a couple minutes for the sunflower seeds to dissolve and the dressing to become completely creamy).
  3. Toss it all together: Toss the dressing with the broccoli mixture until all the broccoli is completely coated with the creamy dressing. Cover and seal tightly in the fridge until ready to serve. Tastes even better after marinating in the fridge for a few hours. Garnish with parsley and additional sunflower seeds.
Notes
1) It's very important to make sure to seal the broccoli salad in the fridge well before serving to make sure the avocado does not turn brown and oxidize.
2) Double this dressing for an extra creamy salad!
3.2.2925

healthy creamy broccoli

If you try thisΒ VeganΒ Healthy Creamy Broccoli Salad, it makes my day seeingΒ your deliciousΒ #CearasKitchen creations.Β Share your photos with me on InstagramΒ @CearasKitchen (and remember to tag #CearasKitchen so I don’t miss it!) or share it on my Ceara’s Kitchen Facebook page.

Vegan Healthy Creamy Broccoli Salad was last modified: November 30th, 2015 by Ceara
33 comments
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33 comments

Erin July 3, 2016 at 4:47 pm

Amazing!! I have to admit that I usually have to increase condiment and spice ratios on recipes to increase flavor but I followed your recipe exactly and it was perfect! I added a couple tbsp. of veganaise to make my dressing stretch a little further and it was quite delicious. This will be a recipe I come back to for years to come. Thank you!!

Reply
Ceara July 6, 2016 at 9:45 pm

Thank you for your lovely comment, Erin. I am the same way and usually have to up the condiments and spices in recipes. So happy you enjoyed the salad!

Reply
Cynthia February 1, 2016 at 12:25 pm

This looks delicios. But I’m curious. The photo has cilantro in it – not parsley (not even flat leaf parsley). Do you sometimes use cilantro and, if so, do you change any of the other ingredients?

Reply
Sammi November 1, 2015 at 11:17 pm

I jjust made this recipe and it is so good. I had some leftover shredded cabbage so I added that as well and I just love all the colors and the tangy flavor of the creamy dressing. Awesome recipe!

Reply
Ceara November 9, 2015 at 6:31 pm

Thank you for the lovely feedback, Sammi! Love the addition of shredded cabbage – YUM!

Reply
Alexa [fooduzzi.com] June 17, 2015 at 11:53 am

I loved this salad as a kid! I can’t wait to try the veganized version!

Reply
Ceara June 18, 2015 at 10:23 am

Yay!!! One of my fave childhood salads too! Enjoy πŸ™‚

Reply
Lisa @ Sprinkle with Love May 28, 2015 at 12:23 pm

Ahhhh I was just thinking about creating a broccoli salad – thanks for the inspiration of using avocado and seeds.. I just discovered your blog and subscribed to stay in touch. πŸ™‚ Lisa

Reply
Ceara May 29, 2015 at 2:37 pm

So happy you discovered the blog and thank you for subscribing πŸ™‚ Lovely to “meet” you!

Reply
The Vegan 8 May 28, 2015 at 12:21 am

What a beautiful salad Ceara! I absolutely LOVE broccoli and love the sound of that awesome dressing. I make dressings a lot with avocado and they are so creamy and delicious! I love that you added sunflower seeds and I can see why everybody gobbled this salad up so incredibly fast, I would too!! Love, love that there is chopped avocado AND avocado dressing, YUM!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:29 am

Thanks so much, Brandi! I feel like if we looked in each other’s cupboards we’d fine very similar items in our pantries – we have such similar tastes! I was oggling over your sunflower seed ranch dressing that goes with your potato salad the other day – YUM!!

Reply
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter May 27, 2015 at 3:21 pm

This salad is gorgeous, Ceara! I can’t get enough of broccoli these days and it looks perfect with the avocado and yummy sunflower seeds! Love the sound of the creamy avocado Dijon dressing too!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:28 am

<3 Thank you Kelly! I am obsessed with broccoli these days too!! Yay for broccoli fans!

Reply
Linda @ Veganosity May 27, 2015 at 1:25 pm

That dressing sounds amazing! I’m not a fan of heavy dressings but this seems like it’s just right, and I love the splash of hot sauce.

Haha! I grew up in Wisconsin and it was perfectly acceptable to call Jell-o, mini marshmallows, and canned fruit a salad. I can proudly say that I have never touched the stuff, even before I became health conscious that kind of thing grossed me out. πŸ™‚

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:27 am

Thanks, Linda!! πŸ™‚ I hear you on not liking dressings that are overly heavy – the added water and lemon really balance this dressing out! I love it on other salads too!

And that’s hilarious! I grew up around jello and marshmallow salads too – I want to know WHO first named these gelatinous salads, “salad”. Too funny!!

Reply
Laura May 27, 2015 at 12:40 pm

Hi Ceara! I sort of fell off the health band wagon this week so hopefully this salad with put me back where I need to be. Broccoli is calling my name these days. And I adore any salad with sunflower seeds. Just don’t get mad when I throw in the salted ones instead of the unsalted ones….haha. Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:24 am

I hear you, Laura! Broccoli and greens always seem to call my name when I eat too many sweets! πŸ˜‰ Have a wonderful week and weekend as well!! Thank you for the kind words as always!

Reply
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice May 27, 2015 at 12:27 pm

Oh this salad is so pretty, Ceara! I’ve never seen a broccoli one quite like this before. I love the dressing and the fact that there’s a little crunch in this salad. What a perfect green dish!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:24 am

Thank you so much, Gayle! The crunch and the textures of this salad really bring it to the next level πŸ™‚ Have a wonderful week!

Reply
Michele @ Two Raspberries May 27, 2015 at 7:13 am

Ceara! this broccoli salad looks so tasty! this is a perfect side dish or even a light light lunch! πŸ˜‰ YUM

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:23 am

Yes, this broccoli salad makes the best lunch!! πŸ™‚ Thank you!

Reply
kate / vegukate May 26, 2015 at 9:56 pm

you had me at vegan & creamy. This looks SO amazing Ceara!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:21 am

Thank you so much my friend!

Reply
Florian @ContentednessCooking May 26, 2015 at 7:20 pm

You don’t know how much I love broccoli and I’m an avocado addict, too. Your salad sounds delicious, love every ingredient. This salad is just amazing, the addition of a avocado dressing just marvelous! Your pictures are beautiful, so I can literally feel the crunch of the sunflower seeds! πŸ™‚

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:21 am

Thank you so much for your kind words, Florian!! It sounds like we have very similar taste buds! πŸ™‚ Avocado + Broccoli = my life πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜€

Reply
Jenn May 26, 2015 at 5:30 pm

YUM! I LOVE broccoli salad! I love that you added avocado in the salad and in the dressing. Must try!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:20 am

Yay!! Thanks so much Jenn πŸ™‚

Reply
Traci | Vanilla And Bean May 26, 2015 at 4:16 pm

Oh yeah, I’m all about broccoli salad! I’ve not tried it with an avo dressing, but it sounds so good and creamy. And the sunflower seeds are the best in a broccoli salad! Good thing J is open to trying new recipes. Rob isn’t always so open… but he has come a looong way since his Texas meat and potato days!

Reply
Ceara May 28, 2015 at 10:20 am

Happy to hear you are all about the broccoli salad too! I’ve been in love with broccoli salad as long as I can remember πŸ˜‰ And that’s wonderful about Rob – J and I have both come along way since our ways when we first met too in France πŸ™‚ It’s crazy how our tastes and preferences change over time!

Reply
Natalie @ Feasting on Fruit May 25, 2015 at 2:08 pm

I LOVE this salad <3 It is great to find veggie dishes that I actually crave and can't stop eating, because veggies are often a should eat not a want to eat ;D haha I really love slices of apple in my broccoli salad too, but no reason why I couldn't add them in!

Reply
Ceara May 26, 2015 at 6:27 am

Thank you, Natalie!! Broccoli + Apples sounds like a wonderful combination!! πŸ™‚

Reply
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy May 25, 2015 at 12:49 pm

This looks perfect for a BBQ. I love that it has sunflower seeds on it too.

Reply
Ceara May 25, 2015 at 1:16 pm

Thanks Dannii!! This is SUCH a great BBQ side πŸ™‚

Reply

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