Episode 8

This is a true story about this broccoli crunch salad. My mom has made a salad very similar to this for years to take to family gatherings. I always thought I didn’t like it (like even after I was out of college….I know, I know smh) until I finally tried it a few years ago and quickly realized what I had been missing out on all those Christmases, Easters, Thanksgivings, etc. It is the perfect combination of crunch, sweet, and a tad bit of tang from the cider vinegar. It mixes well with turkey, beef tenderloin, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dinner rolls…..you get the point. This broccoli crunch salad will be your go-to to take to gatherings! And what a fun way to eat your veggies 🙂

Ingredients

1 large crown fresh broccoli, washed and cut into bite size pieces

1/2 red onion, finely chopped (I like this chopper)

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 cup mayonnaise

4 Tbsp. cider vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (I used turkey bacon)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, toss together the broccoli, onion, and golden raisins. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, and sugar. Pour over the broccoli and toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving as it is best served cold. Right before serving, mix in the bacon and sunflower seeds. Enjoy!

My one tip for this would be to gauge how much of the mayonnaise mixture to use. You do not have to use it all as you don’t want it to be soupy. For example, if you use a smaller head of broccoli and the entire mayonnaise mixture, your proportions will be off and there might be too much sauce. There needs to be a generous coating, but not overdone. I also used turkey bacon, but feel free to use whatever bacon your heart desires. Purple raisins can be subbed for golden raisins, but do NOT DARE substitute Miracle Whip for the mayonnaise. I don’t eat mayonnaise often, but you do not want to mess with something this delicious by substituting in Miracle Whip.

This broccoli crunch salad is seriously one of my favorites! Whether you make it for Easter lunch or as a side with Turkey Burgers (click here) you are going to love it! I feel like it should have been part of my Five Things I’m Loving for Summer post 🙂

Cheers – MP