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    Home » Course » Side Dish

    Healthy Broccoli Salad (Paleo and Whole30)

    Published: Jul 1, 2020 · Modified: Dec 27, 2022 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    This is the best healthy broccoli salad recipe! With a rich and creamy dressing and the perfect amount of crunch this salad is made with broccoli, red onion, almonds and fresh grapes. It's great for picnics, barbecues and makes the perfect side dish. It's also paleo, Whole30 and dairy-free!

    A large bowl of broccoli salad with a serving spoon in it.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • This healthy broccoli salad is my new favourite side dish. It has the best creamy dressing and the combination of broccoli, fresh grapes and crunchy almonds blends perfectly.
    • This simple broccoli salad is quick and easy to make and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.
    • It's made with pantry staples and it also makes great leftovers.
    • It's perfect for meal prep. 
    • Besides being paleo, this salad is also Whole30 compliant, dairy free and healthy!
    • You don't need to blanch the broccoli to make this salad.
    • This is a fun twist on a classic old fashioned broccoli salad because it's made with no bacon. 
    • This broccoli salad can easily be made vegan by using a vegan mayonnaise.
    • This recipe is made with no yogurt and no sugar.

    Taste and texture:

    This salad is creamy and rich and has the perfect crunchy texture from the slivered almonds and fresh broccoli. Grapes add the perfect amount of sweetness which contrasts really well with the tart, tangy dressing.

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • Mayonnaise - A good mayonnaise is key to making a delicious broccoli salad. It's used to make the delicious creamy dressing.  I love using my homemade mayonnaise for this recipe but you can use your favourite store bought mayo too. 
    • Dijon mustard - to give the dressing it just a little tang and extra flavour. 
    • Coconut vinegar and balsamic vinegar - the combination of these two vinegars makes the creamy dressing on this salad taste so good!
    • Fresh broccoli - the star of this healthy salad is fresh broccoli. I kept it simple and use raw broccoli for this recipe. No need for blanching the broccoli. 
    • Grapes - grapes add the perfect amount of sweetness to this salad that blends perfectly with the tartness of the broccoli and the creamy dressing. Instead of grapes you could add other fruit such as apples.
    • Slivered almonds - not only do almonds taste amazing and add flavour to this salad, they also give it a nice crunchy texture. You could swap the almonds for another nut or seed too. Other delicious options include pine nuts, sunflower seeds or cashews.

    How to make:

    Step one:

    First, put all the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl.

    Step two:

    Then mix the dressing in another bowl and stir it well until it's smooth and creamy.

    Step three:

    Now pour the dressing over the salad ingredients.

    Step four:

    Now stir everything well so that the salad ingredients are evenly coated. Then serve and enjoy!

    Step by step directions for making a healthy broccoli salad.

    Tips and variations:

    • I think this salad tastes even better if you let it sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours (or overnight) before serving.
    • For even more crunch add some cooked bacon bits!
    • Instead of slivered almonds you could use pine nuts, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds instead.
    • If you prefer to blanche your broccoli when you make broccoli salad feel free to do so.
    • To make this into a vegan broccoli salad use a vegan mayonnaise. 

    How to serve:

    • Broccoli salad goes really well with burgers and I often pair them with my favourite pork burgers.
    • Paleo salad makes a great side dish for pork chops like my blueberry pork chops.
    • Pair this salad with ribs! These slow cooker ribs are my favourite.
    • This salad goes so well with salt and pepper chicken wings!
    • It goes great with steak, grilled chicken or fish!

    How to store:

    Store this salad in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 7 days.

    Nutrition info:

    One serving of this broccoli salad has approximately 203 calories with 21 grams of total carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 15 grams of net carbs, 8 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat. This recipe is low sugar, Whole30, dairy free and gluten free. It is not low carb or keto.

    A bowl of broccoli salad with dressing being poured on it.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Do you steam broccoli for broccoli salad?

    Nope! For this broccoli salad there is no need to steam the broccoli, I just use raw broccoli but if you prefer you can also blanche it.

    Do you blanch broccoli for broccoli salad? 

    Some broccoli salad recipes will ask you to blanch the broccoli, but not all. This simple broccoli salad requires no blanching so it is ready in no time.

    Can you make broccoli salad without bacon?

    Yes! You can easily make a broccoli salad with no bacon. Instead of bacon, other options to add crunch to broccoli salad include using nuts or seeds such as slivered almonds, pecans or pine nuts. 

    Does broccoli salad freeze well?

    No, broccoli salad does not freeze well. After being frozen the broccoli will become rather mushy when it thaws.

    Other recipes you will love:

    • Dairy free ice cream bars
    • Kale and Apple Salad
    • Asian Coleslaw
    • Easy Green Beans and Almonds
    • Teriyaki Broccoli Stir Fry
    • Paleo Potato Salad
    • Walnut Dressing

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    A bowl of healthy broccoli salad with a serving spoon in it.

    Healthy Broccoli Salad (Paleo and Whole30)

    This healthy broccoli salad is just the best! It has a little sweetness from grapes, crunch from slivered almonds, and a delicious creamy dressing. It's also paleo, Whole30 and dairy-free.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 203kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Ingredients

    Salad Ingredients

    • 2 heads broccoli, finely chopped
    • 1 cup slivered almonds
    • 1 cup sliced red grapes
    • 1/2 cup chopped red onion (or more to taste)

    Dressing Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoon coconut vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl combine all the salad ingredients.
    • In a separate bowl or jar, combine the dressing ingredients and stir them well until they are smooth.
    • Add the dressing to the salad and stir everything well until combined.
    • Optional: put the salad in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving to help the flavours become stronger and the broccoli to get more crisp.

    Notes

    1. This salad tastes even better if left in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.
    2. Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use. 
    3. Store this salad in the fridge for up to a week after you make it. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 974IU | Vitamin C: 138mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    More Healthy Side Dishes

    • Carrot and Turnip Soup
    • Paleo Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
    • Turnip and Apple Casserole

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lindsay

      July 01, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      I'm not going to be able to get Coconut Vinegar in time to make this recipe. What's your best suggestion for an alternative?

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        July 31, 2021 at 3:13 pm

        I have personally not tried it with any other vinegar so I am not sure how the taste would change if you do. I would probably try apple cider since I often have that one but if you try another please let me know.

        Reply
    2. Tatiana

      July 21, 2022 at 6:40 pm

      Loved this recipe. I used apple cider vinegar and it worked great! So tasty. So simple. Thanks Erin!5 stars

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        July 22, 2022 at 8:02 am

        Oh yay I'm so glad you like it!!!!

        Reply

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    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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