Keto Broccoli Salad 🥦

Craving a refreshing addition to your meal lineup? Look no further because our Keto Broccoli Salad is just what you need! It’s clear you all adore our keto salads for lunches and light snacks, which is why we’ve upped the ante with this incredible mix of crispy broccoli, crunchy toasted almonds and walnuts, sweet strawberries, and the tangy punch of Granny Smith apples.

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Preparation and cooking overview

Whipping up this Keto Broccoli Salad is a breeze and takes under 20 minutes. All you need to do is drizzle our homemade mustard dressing over crisp broccoli florets, toasty nuts, strawberries, and tangy Granny Smith apple. And that’s it!

Chef’s note

This vibrant and flavorful keto broccoli salad is perfect as a meal. But if you feel like adding some protein, simply add your favorite protein source, such as grilled chicken, and make it a complete keto meal.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recipe Makes 2 Servings

🥦 Ingredients for this keto broccoli salad recipe

1 head of broccoli
4 tablespoon almond
4 tablespoon walnut
6-8 strawberry
½ Granny Smith apple
1 lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon mustard, any type will work
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoon olive oil
Pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste

Ingredients like broccoli, almonds, apple, lime, strawberries, blasamic vinegar on kitchen table,

Ingredient substitutions

Salad ingredients

Broccoli: You can substitute it with cauliflower.
Almonds and walnuts: If you have a nut allergy, then you can opt for seeds such as pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
Strawberries: You can swap them with raspberries or blackberries depending upon the availability as per the season.
Granny Smith apple: Use chayote. This low-carb veggie has a similar crunchy texture to apples.

Salad dressing ingredients

Lemon juice and balsamic vinegar: Substitute them with apple cider vinegar for tanginess.
Olive oil: Use avocado oil as a great substitute for this oil.
Salt and pepper: You can experiment with Kosher salt or flavored salts or pepper blends for a fun twist.

Additional ingredients

It’s always cool to add extra ingredients or toppings to your salad. Here are some optional ingredients you can use in this recipe:

Other Nuts: Add pecans or macadamia nuts along with almonds and walnuts to add a diversity of nuts and a richness of good fats to this green dish.
Vegetable mix: Add a mix of cucumber, bell pepper, or other fresh veggies for a variety of textures.
Chili flakes: For a small kick of heat, you can add chili flakes as well.
Cheese: You can also add grated or shredded cheese. Parmesan or cheddar cheese are great options for an enhanced flavor profile. You can use dairy or vegan cheese.
Bacon: It’s a salad without bacon, but if you want to add bacon bits, you can do that.

Cooking tools required

To make this Keto Broccoli Salad recipe, you’ll need the following tools:

Knife
Cutting board
Mandoline
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Lemon squeezer
Cast-iron pan

Tools substitute options

Knife: A great alternative to this can be your kitchen shears or scissors.
Cutting board: If you don’t have this, use a clean and flat plate or even the board of the kitchen.
Mandoline: If you don’t have this, a sharp knife will work. Just make sure your slices are as uniform as possible.
Mixing bowl: Substitute it with a large pot instead.
Whisk: if you don’t have it use a fork.
Lemon squeezer: You can simply squeeze by using your fingers.
Cast-iron pan: If it is not available at your home, use a heavy-bottomed skillet or a non-stick pan.

How to make Keto Broccoli Salad: step-by-step guide

Cooking methods

Toasting
Chopping
Tossing

Roasted almonds and walnuts in a small cast iron skillet.

Preparation steps

Gather all the required ingredients for making this dish.
Measure the ingredients according to the needed quantity.
Make sure you have all your cooking tools needed for this recipe.

Chopping broccoli, strawberries, apple, almonds, and walnut on a chopping board.

Cooking instructions

Heat a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the walnuts and almonds to the pan and toast for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are lightly golden. Let them cool, and chop them roughly.
Cut the broccoli into small florets or bite-size pieces. Transfer them to the mixing bowl.
Slice the strawberries and the apple with a mandoline or a sharp knife. Transfer them to the mixing bowl.
Whisk together the mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
Pour the tangy dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss everything together until it is evenly coated.
You can then let this salad chill on the fridge for some time and serve it, or you can serve it at room temperature.

Whisking mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a small bowl.

Pour the dressing over the mixing bowl with salad ingredients.

Chef’s pro tip

While crafting this broccoli salad, you’ve got to be careful with toasting your walnuts and almonds. Raw or burnt nuts just won’t cut it. To ensure you hit that toasty sweet spot, keep a close eye on those nuts and stir often. Once they’re lightly toasted, go ahead and slide them onto a plate.

What to serve with Keto Broccoli Salad?

Eat this fantastic broccoli salad as it is, or pair it with other main courses!

Pair with keto-friendly bread: Serve it with a slice of homemade keto bread or low-carb keto croutons for a more filling meal.
Serve alongside grilled meats: You can add this dish when consuming grilled meats like chicken steak, tri-tip grilled beef, pork tenderloin, or steak roll-ups. These meaty dishes are a true salad spinner.
Chicken skillets: Serving it with chicken fajita skillets or chicken piccata will enhance the deliciousness threefold.

How to make it healthier?

To make it more nutritious, you can make certain changes to the original recipe:

Switch to organic ingredients as they give your cleanest, most nutrient-dense food possible.
Opt for low Sodium mustard and vinegar to keep the sodium content of your dish under control.
Add more greens like spinach or kale to add a lovely color and texture variation.
Include more protein, such as grilled chicken breast, tofu, or even boiled eggs.
Use extra virgin olive oil as they are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are heart-friendly.

Time-saving tips

Buy pre-sliced and washed broccoli florets as well as other fruits.
If using frozen broccoli florets, let them thaw first.

What can I prepare ahead of time

Toast and chop the nuts and store them in an airtight container.
Make the salad dressing ahead by whisking all the dressing ingredients. You can then refrigerate this flavorful concoction in a sealed jar.

Storage instructions

This broccoli salad will be good for up to 3 days. To maintain the freshness, you can store it in an airtight container. Just keep the dressing separate and add it to the salad before serving to prevent it from becoming soggy.

Recipe wrap-up & conclusion

Our Keto Broccoli Salad sure packs a punch! Brimming with crisp broccoli, tangy apples, sweet strawberries, and crunchy nuts, this dish is a sensation.

One bite, and we’re sure you’ll be hooked, reaching for seconds before you know it! This could easily become a staple in your keto meal plans, giving you a burst of freshness and flavor. Give it a go, and let us know how you liked it. And remember, sharing is caring, so spread the salad love with friends and family!

Frequently asked questions

Absolutely! Many of you may not like the idea of raw broccoli. You can simply steam the broccoli florets over boiling water and cook them until they’re tender but still have a slight crunch. After that, you need to give these florets a quick ice water bath so that the cooking process stops.

While fresh broccoli is always best for salads, you can use frozen broccoli. However, the texture might differ slightly from fresh broccoli. If using frozen broccoli, thoroughly thaw it and pat it dry to absorb the excess water.

This is an excellent choice for meal prep. You can prepare a big batch and store it in the fridge. Just remember to keep the dressing separately and mix it with the salad before you eat.

📖 Recipe

Keto Broccoli Salad

Our Keto Broccoli Salad is a quick and easy meal option, combining crispy broccoli, crunchy nuts, and tangy fruit for a refreshing and nutrient-rich dish.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword keto salad

Prep Time 20

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 593kcal

Ingredients

1 head of broccoli
4 tablespoon almond
4 tablespoon walnut
6-8 strawberry
½ Granny Smith apple
1 lemon juice freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon mustard any type will work
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoon olive oil
Pepper to taste
Salt to taste

Instructions

Heat a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the walnuts and almonds to the pan and toast for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are lightly golden. Let them cool, and chop them roughly.
Cut the broccoli into small florets or bite-size pieces. Transfer them to the mixing bowl.
Slice the strawberries and the apple with a mandoline or a sharp knife. Transfer them to the mixing bowl.
Whisk together the mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
Pour the tangy dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss everything together until it is evenly coated.
You can then let this salad chill on the fridge for some time and serve it, or you can serve it at room temperature.

Video

Nutrition

The post Keto Broccoli Salad 🥦 appeared first on Cast Iron Keto.

* This article was originally published here

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