Crunchy, refreshing mayo-free broccoli salad with lemon poppy seed dressing, dried cranberries, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and feta cheese. A perfect side dish for any meal!
For me, the ultimate wins-every-time broccoli salad formula is blanched broccoli with raw or candied nuts, dried fruit, and a homemade mayo-free dressing.
This easy broccoli salad with lemon poppy seed dressing fits the bill!
The sweet and tangy apples add a refreshing essence, and the creamy feta cheese, sour dried cranberries, nutty sunflower seeds and walnuts bring big bursts of flavor in every bite!
I love that the light and zingy lemon poppy seed dressing brings the whole thing together with refreshing flavor without making the salad heavy the way a mayo-based dressing can.
For the best texture, I like blanching my broccoli before turning it into salad, because itโs much easier to chew. It is also easier to digest!
Ingredient Notes:
Here are the main ingredients for this easy broccoli salad recipe.
Fresh Broccoli: The main ingredient. We need two crowns of broccoli or one bunch of broccoli with stems attached. I stick with broccoli crowns for the best texture, as broccoli stems can be tough.
Apples: Add sweetness and tanginess. Choose your favorite apple. I like honey crisp or envy apples.
Sunflower Seeds and Walnuts: We need some form of nut or seed for a little crunch. I like pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds the most.
Dried Cranberries: Brings sweetness and a little sour flavor. Swap it out for raisins if need be.
Green Onions: I love onions in broccoli salads, but red onions can be a little strong. For this reason, I go with green onion.
Feta Cheese: A little creamy flair, crumbled feta cheese is great in this healthy broccoli salad.
Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients
Olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, poppy seeds, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup. The combination of these ingredients yields a tangy, right, zippy dressing. Use it in other salad recipes too!
How to Make This Broccoli Salad Recipe:
- Step 1: Blanch the broccoli for 30 seconds in hot water. Immediately drain and transfer to an ice bath. Drain the broccoli into a colander to dry.
- Step 2: Mix together the ingredients for the lemon poppy seed dressing in a small bowl or a measuring cup.
- Step 3: Toss all of the broccoli salad ingredients together in a large bowl. Add salt to your personal taste.
Recipe Customizations:
- If you have any stray nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, toss them in the salad.
- Add excess produce that needs to be used up.
- Toss in some gorgonzola or blue cheese, goat milk feta, grated cheddar, parmesan, etc. When pressed to divulge my favorite, Iโd have to say feta.
- Nut or seed-wise, I typically use raw. If you remember the Broccoli Salad with Honey Toasted Walnuts I posted a few years ago, I also love a good candied nut.
- Bacon? When in doubt, add it!
More Healthy Brunch Ideas
- Paleo Carrot Cake
- Sweet Potato, Sausage, and Kale Breakfast Casserole
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
- Zucchini, Arugula, and Feta Frittata
- Paleo Morning Glory Muffins
- Paleo Blueberry Muffins
- Strawberry Orange Mango Kombucha Mocktails
Also try my Broccoli Slaw recipe for a different approach to broccoli salads.
Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to taste
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
Broccoli Salad:
- 1 pound broccoli crowns 2 medium-sized crowns, chopped into florets
- 2 stalks green onion chopped
- 1/2 apple cored and chopped I used Cameo apple
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries see note*
- 1/3 cup raw walnuts chopped
- 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 2 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds
Instructions
Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
- Add all the ingredients for the lemon poppy seed dressing except for the poppy seeds to a small blender. Blend until completely smooth. Stir in the poppy seeds until well combined. Set aside until ready to use.
Broccoli Salad
- Heat a pot of water on the stove top to boiling and add the broccoli florets to quickly blanch. Leave the florets in the boiling water just for 30 seconds or so. Strain, and immediately rinse with cold water. Allow broccoli to dry to pat it dry with a paper towel
- Transfer the broccoli to a large mixing bowl, along with the remaining ingredients for the salad. Pour in the lemon poppy seed dressing and toss everything together until well combined. Taste the broccoli salad for flavor and add more sea salt, and/or lemon juice to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Love your lemon poppy seed dressing!
So, is it a mommy no no to put broccoli salad in your daughter’s Easter basket?! Because I might SO do that. At the least she is getting chocolate/candy over my dead body. So there’s that.
This is so similar to my go-to broccoli salad that I usually make with a light coleslaw dressing, but I definitely need to try this!
Ahhhh yuuuum a creamy cashew dressing sounds so marvelous! I’ll have to try that soon! xo
Crunchy zingy and full of flavor – another fabulous salad! bookmarked this one too:)
This looks so fresh and crisp!!
I’m craving this now, love all those crunchy textures!
I would never be sad about a salad, even if it doesn’t have chocolate in it. This looks AWESOME! And I think you must have the coolest parents ever. I love the idea of a hunt for Easter baskets :). Have a great week, Julia!
This looks so delicious!! I love the addition of poppy seeds and feta ๐
Ughhh I love this so much and I just bought broccoli! Now if only I could get Miguel on board…