Discover a delightful Apple Broccoli Salad that celebrates the vibrant mix of crisp broccoli, apples, red onion, and raisins, accented with sunflower seeds. The harmonious blend of tangy vegan dressing enhances every bite, offering a refreshing treat that brings family and friends together for shared culinary joy and balanced nourishment.

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I recently whipped up this vegan apple broccoli salad and I gotta say its a game changer! This isn’t your everyday salad recipe – it’s a fun mix of flavors that change the entire vibe of your meal.

I start with 4 cups of chopped broccoli florets, then add 1 large diced apple for that crisp sweetness and a little kick from 1/4 sliced red onion. There’s also a hearty handful of 1/2 cup raisins and 1/4 cup sunflower seeds tossed in to bring a subtle crunch.

I mix up a tangy dressing with 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. It reminds me a bit of those unique apple salad recipes or what some might call an easy broccoli salad loaded with raisins for extra flavor.

All the ingredients go into a bowl and then its just toss and eat. I cant wait for you to try it!

Why I Like this Recipe

I really love this recipe for a few reasons. First, I like how the flavors mix together—the crunchiness of the broccoli with the sweetness of the apple, raisins, and seeds really makes it fun to eat. Second, the tangy-sweet dressing with vegan mayo, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup is super tasty, and it makes every bite pop with flavor. Third, it’s a healthy meal packed with fruits and vegetables, so I feel good eating it. And finally, I enjoy that it’s easy and quick to prepare, making it an awesome choice for a light meal or side dish.

This vegan apple broccoli salad is one of my favs because it’s like a mix of all my go-to fruits and veggies in one bowl. First you chop up the broccoli, dice an apple, and slice a little red onion, then toss them with raisins and sunflower seeds. After that, you whip up a dressing with vegan mayo, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper until it’s smooth. You pour it all over and gently toss everything together, letting it sit for a bit so the flavors can get acquainted. It might seem simple, but trust me it’s really delicious and refreshing.

Ingredients

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Ingredient Quantities

4 cups broccoli florets, chopped

1 large apple, cored and diced

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

How to Make this

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1. Start off by chopping your broccoli into bite size florets, dicing the apple after coring it, and thinly slicing a quarter of red onion then place them in a large bowl with the raisins and sunflower seeds.

2. Grab a small bowl and add half a cup of vegan mayo, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of maple syrup, one fourth teaspoon of salt, and one eighth teaspoon of black pepper.

3. Whisk the dressing really well until it looks smooth and butters up evenly.

4. Now pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in your large bowl.

5. Gently toss everything together till all the pieces are well coated with the sweet tangy dressing.

6. Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes so all the flavors can get to know each other.

7. Give it another toss if needed before serving.

8. Taste it and if you feel like it needs a bit more salt or sweetness, adjust as you go.

9. Serve it up as a tasty side dish or a light meal.

10. Enjoy your refreshing vegan apple broccoli salad and feel free to experiment with extra toppings if you like.

Equipment Needed

1. Chef knife for chopping the broccoli, apple, and red onion
2. Cutting board for all your slicing and dicing
3. Large bowl to mix your salad ingredients
4. Small bowl to whisk together the dressing
5. Whisk for blending the dressing smooth
6. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient portions
7. A serving spoon or spatula for tossing the salad evenly

FAQ

How long does it take to prep this Apple Broccoli Salad?

It usually takes about 15 minutes prep time. You might wanna let it sit a bit in the fridge for the flavors to really blend.

Can I swap the vegan mayo for regular mayo?

Yeah, you can but it will change the flavor and texture a bit and its not vegan then so keep that in mind.

How long will this salad stay fresh in the fridge?

It should keep for around 2-3 days if you store it in an airtight container. Just make sure you mix it well before serving again.

Can I use a different type of apple?

Sure, you can use green, red, or even a mix of apples. Any apple will do as long as its nicely diced.

Is it best served chilled or at room temperature?

This salad is definitely best served chilled so the flavors stay fresh, but if you prefer it at room temp thats fine too.

Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Broccoli: You can swap out the broccoli for cauliflower, which gives a similar crunch but a slightly milder flavor
Apple: If you cannot find apples, try using pears – they keep the crisp texture even if they are a tad sweeter
Vegan Mayonnaise: Instead of vegan mayo, you could use plain vegan yogurt. It works well and adds a nice tang
Apple Cider Vinegar: White wine vinegar is also a good choice though it has a lighter taste
Maple Syrup: If maple syrup is not around, agave nectar makes a fine substitute to give that sweet kick

Pro Tips

1. Toast the sunflower seeds in a dry pan on medium heat for a few minutes till they turn a light golden color. This really adds an extra crunchy nutty flavor that makes the salad pop.
2. Let the salad chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes instead of just 10. That extra time helps all the flavors mix together really nicely.
3. If it seems a bit thick or heavy, add a splash more apple cider vinegar or even a teeny bit of water to make the dressing lighter.
4. Try switching out the apple for a mix of apple types, like one tart and one sweet, to give the salad even more depth of flavor.

Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe

Recipe by Toni Baldesera

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

183

kcal

Equipment: 1. Chef knife for chopping the broccoli, apple, and red onion
2. Cutting board for all your slicing and dicing
3. Large bowl to mix your salad ingredients
4. Small bowl to whisk together the dressing
5. Whisk for blending the dressing smooth
6. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient portions
7. A serving spoon or spatula for tossing the salad evenly

Ingredients

4 cups broccoli florets, chopped
1 large apple, cored and diced
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Start off by chopping your broccoli into bite size florets, dicing the apple after coring it, and thinly slicing a quarter of red onion then place them in a large bowl with the raisins and sunflower seeds.
Grab a small bowl and add half a cup of vegan mayo, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of maple syrup, one fourth teaspoon of salt, and one eighth teaspoon of black pepper.
Whisk the dressing really well until it looks smooth and butters up evenly.
Now pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in your large bowl.
Gently toss everything together till all the pieces are well coated with the sweet tangy dressing.
Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes so all the flavors can get to know each other.
Give it another toss if needed before serving.
Taste it and if you feel like it needs a bit more salt or sweetness, adjust as you go.
Serve it up as a tasty side dish or a light meal.
Enjoy your refreshing vegan apple broccoli salad and feel free to experiment with extra toppings if you like.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.