Winter Broccoli Crunch Salad with Citrus Dressing.
This winter broccoli crunch salad is sponsored by Florida’s Natural®. This recipe is a great way to add a pop of brightness to your chilly days! Broccoli, avocado, dried cherries and more are drizzled in a creamy citrus dressing that takes it over the top. It’s a perfect side dish!
It’s time to brighten things up with a crunchy citrus salad!
This broccoli crunch salad is crisp, crunchy, packed with satisfying ingredients and topped with a delicious, creamy vinaigrette. It’s a great side dish, perfect for a party and even works as a make-ahead lunch. We all love this recipe and it pairs so nicely with just about anything.
The classic summertime broccoli salad is a favorite in our family. Trust me, I never thought we would love such a dish, but there is something so good about a crunchy salad with a creamy dressing. It’s so delicious that I often wonder why we ONLY eat it in the summer months. So, here we are… a winter version of the broccoli salad we all like to pile high on our plates.
Today I’ve partnered with Florida’s Natural to bring you this bright, refreshing recipe using their 100% Premium Orange Juice. We LOVE Florida’s Natural! It’s a staple in our fridge and my kids live for orange juice. The quality of Florida’s Natural is impeccable, and the taste beats out all other orange juices in this house.
I also love that Florida’s Natural is committed to supporting local Florida growers. They are a proud cooperative owned by hundreds of citrus farmers and their families, and they use only the highest-quality citrus in their products. This orange juice just can’t be beat!
This broccoli crunch salad is superb. It’s so light, so bright from the citrus, so crisp and crunchy–it’s everything you want to eat during the gloomy winter months. Plus, it’s delicious (of course).
I like to blanch the broccoli to retain its gorgeous color and crunch. Once that is done, I toss it with the creamy citrus vinaigrette to really incorporate that orange flavor before the rest of the ingredients go in the bowl.
The orange dressing is practically drinkable. It’s divine. It all starts with the Florida’s Natural® No-Pulp Orange Juice. I add in a splash of vinegar, some honey and plain Greek yogurt, a big pinch of salt and pepper, then bring it all together with olive oil.
The result is a creamy vinaigrette that imparts a juicy hint of citrus. It makes the entire salad!
And, this dressing is so flavorful that leftovers end up being perfect for lunch the next day. I also like to make this ahead of time for work lunches. Most of the ingredients stay crunchy and as everything sits and marries together, the orange flavor really shines through.
Such a perfect way to cheer up your menu!
Winter Broccoli Crunch Salad
Winter Broccoli Crunch Salad with Citrus Dressing
Ingredients
Broccoli Salad
- 6 cups broccoli florets
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ½ red onion, diced
- ⅓ cup dried cherries or cranberries
- 1 avocado, chopped
- kosher salt and pepper
Creamy Citrus Dressing
- 3 tablespoons Florida’s Natural® No-Pulp Orange Juice
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- kosher salt and pepper
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Start by blanching the broccoli. Prepare an ice bath (a large bowl with ice and water).
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until they are bright green and still crunchy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them directly in the ice bath to stop cooking. Then, transfer them all to a towel to remove the water. Place all the broccoli florets in a large bowl.
- To toast the almonds, place the almonds in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Stir the nuts and shake the pan until the almonds toast, about 5 to 6 minutes. Don’t walk away! You don’t want them to burn.
- Make the citrus dressing. Drizzle a few tablespoons of it over the broccoli in the bowl. Toss. Top with the diced red onion, the almonds, the cherries and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Toss together.
- Add the chopped avocado to the bowl. Drizzle with the remaining dressing. Serve immediately.
Creamy Citrus Dressing
- Whisk together the orange juice, yogurt, vinegar, honey, garlic and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Stream in the olive oil and whisk until the dressing comes together and is creamy and smooth. You can also make this in a small blender!
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One Comment on “Winter Broccoli Crunch Salad with Citrus Dressing.”
I am not a fan of avocado; what would you suggest as an alternative? Or just leave it out?