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Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Sunflower Seeds & Cranberries

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A crunchy, tangy, and savory broccoli salad featuring crispy bacon, toasted sunflower seeds, and sweet dried cranberries, perfect for a quick healthy snack or potluck.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (360g) fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
  • ½ cup (70g) sunflower seeds, toasted lightly
  • ½ cup (60g) dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup finely diced red onion (about half a small onion)
  • ½ cup (120ml) mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse 4 cups (360g) of broccoli florets and pat dry. Chop into small, bite-sized pieces.
  2. Place 6 slices of thick-cut bacon in a cold skillet. Cook over medium heat, flipping occasionally until crispy (about 8-10 minutes). Transfer to paper towels to drain and crumble once cooled.
  3. In the same skillet, remove excess bacon fat leaving just a teaspoon. Add ½ cup (70g) sunflower seeds and toast over medium heat, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant (2-3 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
  4. Finely chop ¼ cup of red onion (about half a small onion).
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup (120ml) mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons (30ml) apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.
  6. In a large bowl, toss broccoli, crumbled bacon, toasted sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and diced onion. Pour dressing over and mix until evenly coated.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and broccoli soften slightly while retaining crunch.

Notes

For less raw broccoli, blanch for 1 minute in boiling water then plunge into ice water before tossing. Toast sunflower seeds carefully to avoid burning. Dressing can be loosened with a teaspoon of water if too thick. Salad tastes better after chilling at least 30 minutes. Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 3 days. Avoid freezing.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli salad, bacon salad, sunflower seeds, cranberries, healthy snack, potluck salad, easy salad, crunchy salad

Find it online: https://avabake.com/crunchy-broccoli-salad-recipe-with-bacon-sunflower-seeds-cranberries-easy-healthy-snack/