Broccoli Salad Recipe with Blueberries, Red Onion, Dried Cranberries and Honey-Toasted Walnuts is a beautiful side dish for any of your gatherings.
You know those dreams you had when you were a kid about showing up to grade school in your underwear?
And no matter how hard you tried to pull your shirt down to cover your forgetfulness, the damage had already been done…because you already showed up…in your underwear?
This is kind of like that.
Only it’s not you, it’s me. And this is not a dream, it’s real. But everyone’s fully clothed, and the underwear’s the broccoli salad recipe. What?
Let’s put the car in R and back up.
Now that I have your attention…
This is not your momma’s broccoli salad recipe. I don’t even know what that means, I just wanted to say it.
Fact is, everyone who has been to a family reunion, picnic, or has spent time with large groups of people (read: everyone) has had broccoli salad. But this one is a little different.
Firsties: blueberries.
Seconds: honey-toasted walnuts.
Could this get any better?
Oh yes, dried cranberries.
Unless you’re planning on letting your hair down and turning the walnuts into Rosemary Candied Walnuts, the answer is no.
But you should still make Rosemary Candied Walnuts at some point in your life.
Third and lastly: Remember the discussion we had on Monday about mayonnaise?
The down-with-mayo convo? Same applies here. I used plain yogurt instead of mayo, and added fresh lemon juice and zest to dress this chockablock-full-o-goodies salad.
Am I still talking about broccoli salad?
Recipe Adaptations:
- Replace the fresh blueberries with dried blueberries and omit the dried cranberries.
- Use raisins instead of dried cranberries.
- Swap the walnuts for pecans or almonds.
- Play with the portions of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt depending on your preference.
- Use pure maple syrup instead of honey.
- Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Just add cooked bacon!
My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!
If you make this recipe, please feel free to share a photo and tag @The.Roasted.Root on Instagram!
Here’s the recipe:

Broccoli Salad with Honey-Toasted Walnuts
Broccoli salad with blueberries, honey-toasted walnuts and dried cranberries - an easy, delicious mayo-free broccoli salad recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large crowns broccoli, chopped into florets
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- 4.5 ounces fresh blueberries
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
- 3 Tbsp avocado oil mayonnaise
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Honey-Toasted Walnuts:
- 2/3 cup raw walnut halves
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1.5 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
To Prepare the Honey Toasted Walnuts:
- Add all ingredients for the walnuts to a small skillet and heat over medium. Cook 5 to 8 minutes until mixture is very bubbly and walnuts have caramelized and turned golden-brown. Set aside and allow to cool. Chop the walnuts when cool enough to handle.
To Prepare the Broccoli Salad:
- Soak the broccoli in a large water bath for 10 minutes. Remove from the water and pat dry.
- Chop the broccoli crowns into small florets, and chop the broccoli stems. Add stems and florets to a large serving bowl.
- In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, honey, and salt.
- Pour this mixture over the broccoli and stir well to coat all of the broccoli with dressing.
- Add the red onion, blueberries, dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts. Toss everything together and serve with your favorite entree.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1 of 6Amount Per Serving Calories 134Total Fat 3gUnsaturated Fat 0gCarbohydrates 26gFiber 2gSugar 18gProtein 3g
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Noni
Monday 11th of October 2021
I’ve never seen a recipe call for soaking broccoli in a water bath before. What’s the purpose? Just to clean it?
Julia
Wednesday 13th of October 2021
I soak the broccoli to remove anything from it. If you'd like, you can just give it a good rinse, but soaking it is more effective for removing anything unwanted (pesticides, dirt, critters, etc)
Emma
Wednesday 16th of April 2014
This looks beautiful, and stuffed full of goodness! Thanks for posting!
debra
Saturday 12th of April 2014
I must tell you... I will use this recipe, forever!
Julia
Monday 14th of April 2014
Yaaaaay! So glad to hear it, Debra!! I absolutely love the salad too :) So simple and healthy, yet packed with flavor.
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg
Friday 11th of April 2014
Hands down the best broccoli salad I've seen. I love all the flavors going on in here. pinning.
Stephanie Turner
Friday 11th of April 2014
This looks so good!! I cannot wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!