Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe

Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe -Try this easy-to-make, crisp, and vibrant Healthy Broccoli Apple Salad for your autumn or holiday supper. It’s excellent for barbecues and picnics as well. You can’t go wrong with a vegan apple broccoli salad if you’re searching for a light and healthy salad meal. This meal is the ideal side dish or light lunch choice because it is full of flavor and nutrients. can be easily made vegan which I have shown here. This salad is unexpectedly tasty, easy to make, and fresh.

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If you enjoy a tasty salad, these more delectable salad options are for you- Makhana Salad – Healthy Protein Salad, Smashed Chickpea High Protein Salad Toasts Recipe, Lentil and Roasted Eggplant Salad, Vegan Russian Salad (OLIVIER SALAD).

About Broccoli Apple Salad

Enjoy the delicious, crisp, and colorful broccoli apple salad with yogurt may be plain or vegan that blends sweet and savory ingredients.

It takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and is a perfect way to relish broccoli.

Traditionally, the Southern Broccoli and Apple Salad is made with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing, but I have given it a healthy and vegan spin by using a light apple cider vinegar dressing that complements the dish beautifully. 

This salad is an ideal addition to your fall or holiday table and is convenient for box lunches, potlucks, and picnics as the ingredients don’t become soggy quickly, and can be prepared ahead of time.

The broccoli apple salad raisins are a powerhouse of nutrients, with the sweetness of apples and honey balancing the bitterness of broccoli. It’s a paleo, gluten-free, and diet-friendly recipe, that can be effortlessly made vegan which I have shown here.

Furthermore, you can easily increase the number of ingredients to make a larger batch. Give this nutritious broccoli salad a try any time of the day, and you will feel satisfied and wholesome.

Ingredients

For Salad:

• 12-ounce broccoli (340 g)
• 1 – teaspoon salt
• 1/2 – teaspoon black pepper powder
• 2 – cups diced apples
• ¼ – cup dried cranberries
• ¼ – cup chopped onions
• ½ – cup diced carrots
• Extra virgin olive oil for air frying broccoli
•  ½ – cup chopped roasted pecans or walnut

For The Dressing:

• 1 – tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 – tablespoons maple syrup(use honey if not vegan)
• Salt to taste
• 4 tbsp – Vegan Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp – Vegan Greek Yogurt
• ¼ – teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

 

Apple – Choose Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples for this salad because they are sweet and juicy and go well with it. If you prefer the tart flavor of green apples, you can also use those. For this salad, you don’t need to peel the apples.

Broccoli – Raw broccoli should be chopped into tiny, bite-sized florets. To save time, get pre-cut broccoli florets.

Carrots – The carrots were diced, but shredded carrots are also an option. To save time, buy pre-shredded carrots.

Onions – You can use white or yellow onion in place of red onion, which I prefer to use because it has a milder flavor.

Dried Cranberries – A lovely, chewy texture and a sweet, tangy flavor are added by dried cranberries. Instead of cranberries, you can substitute raisins or craisins.

Vegan Mayonnaise – Take vegan mayonnaise or plain if not vegan.

Vegan Greek Yogurt – You can use normal yogurt if not vegan.

Toasted Pecans – Pecans give the salad a wonderful crunch or bite. Walnuts, cashew nuts, or almonds can be used in place of pecans.

For The Dressing – This straightforward salad needs a light dressing to enhance the flavor and give it an instant boost.

Extra virgin olive oil, vegan mayonnaise, vegan greek yogurt apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup for vegan but if not vegan you can use honey, salt, and pepper were used to make a simple dressing.

Orange juice and orange zest can be used in place of lemon juice and zest. Honey brings a pleasant sweetness. But if you prefer a vegan alternative, use maple syrup.

Check out the vegan broccoli apple salad Recipe Video:

How To Make Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe Step By Step With Photo:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, crisp up the pecans or walnuts until fragrant (3-4 minutes). Chop them, then put them away. Cut the broccoli head into tiny, bite-sized pieces after washing it. Over medium-high heat, bring a medium-sized saucepan of water to a boil. Broccoli stems and 1 teaspoon of salt should be added to the boiling water. Use a spatula to carefully press the florets down. For two to three minutes, cook. Avoid overcooking cauliflower because it will mush up.
2. Give the broccoli two minutes to sit in ice-cold water (optional). Drain after that, and set aside. Use a little extra virgin olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper. I have marinated the broccoli with little extra virgin olive oil, salt to taste, and a little black pepper powder.
3. Now place them in an air fry tray or basket and air fry them for 5 minutes at 180 degrees F. Take out after 5 minutes.
4. For the salad dressing: Now mix apple cider vinegar, maple syrup(use honey if not vegan), Salt to taste, Vegan Mayonnaise, Vegan Greek Yogurt, and freshly cracked black pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix it nicely.
5. Now add air fryer broccoli, salt to taste, black pepper powder, diced apples, dried cranberries, chopped onions, diced carrots, Extra virgin olive oil(optional).and roasted pecans or walnut.
6. Now add the salad dressing and mix it well.
7. Now toss the salad well and mix properly.
8. Chill for 1 hour and serve it as a delicious side dish. I have decorated with air fryer croutons on top its optional but gives a nice crunch to this delicious salad.

   

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you prepare a broccoli and apple salad with a creamy mayonnaise dressing?

1/4 cup full-fat mayonnaise, 1-12 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp honey, and salt (to taste) should be combined in a bowl with 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt. After the salad is thoroughly covered, drizzle the dressing over it and toss.

To make it healthy without sacrificing flavor, substitute some mayonnaise with yogurt.

Can you pack a lunch of broccoli and apple salad?

The majority of the components in this salad are raw, so even after a few hours, they won’t fade. But I advise bringing the dressing in a different bottle and combining it with the salad when you’re ready to eat.

You can also prepare a creamy yogurt or mayonnaise dressing in advance by mixing the ingredients together.

What type of apples works well for broccoli and apple salad?

Red Delicious, Gala, or Fuji apples are sweet and juicy and work better in this salad than tart Granny Smith apples.

If you like, you can try a combination of tart green apples and sweet red apples. Choose apples that are firm and fresh. This salad is especially excellent because of its crispness.

Variations

• Greek Yogurt – For a healthy and creamy dressing, use 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt and add garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
• Mayonnaise – Although I’m not a big fan of mayonnaise, it is a classic ingredient in Southern Broccoli Apple Salad dressing. So, if you enjoy mayonnaise, feel free to use it in the salad.
• Sour Cream – A blend of sour cream, Greek yogurt, and mayonnaise can make an excellent creamy replacement for any of these ingredients alone.
• Tahini Dressing – If you’re seeking a unique and earthy flavor in your salad, then consider trying Tahini Dressing.
• Roasted Walnuts or Pecans – I prefer my salads to have a crunchy texture, and what better way to achieve that than by adding some roasted pecans or walnuts? Alternatively, you could also use cashews, walnuts, or sunflower seeds for some added crunch.
• Cheese – Adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the salad can enhance its flavor. Additionally, Blue cheese and Feta cheese are also great options that complement the other ingredients in the salad.
• Lettuce – Although I haven’t included any salad greens such as lettuce in this recipe, you have the option to do so. Cabbage is also an excellent alternative to consider.
• Fruits – You are welcome to incorporate fruits beyond apples into this recipe. I particularly enjoy adding mangoes, avocados, and kiwis or berries, but don’t be afraid to get creative and select fruits that appeal to you.

Important Suggestion To Keep In Mind

• The advantage of using raw ingredients in this salad is that it is less prone to wilting, making it a great option to prepare in advance for work, school, or picnics. T
• o save time in the morning, you could also prepare the dressing the night before.
• If you don’t have walnuts, cashews would make a good substitute.
• For a flavor variation, consider adding some blue cheese, which pairs well with the apple and walnut combination.
• To balance the flavors, opt for sweet apples like gala instead of sharp or sour varieties.

Serving Suggestions

Cold broccoli apple salad is preferable.

When you’re hungry, serve this salad as a light meal or snack. Moreover, you may bring it to a picnic or a potluck and pack it for a box lunch.

Storage Suggestions

For the flavors to blend together, it’s necessary to refrigerate this salad for 1-2 hours. Furthermore, it can remain fresh for 18-24 hours when stored in the refrigerator. However, beyond that timeframe, it will start to lose its crispness and flavor.

Note: A rough estimate of nutrition is provided.

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Note: A rough estimate of nutrition is provided.

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