Broccoli Salad

Retro Recipe: Broccoli Salad

This is an oldie but still a favorite with my family and great to serve at parties, potlucks, holidays and barbecues.

I actually do not remember where I first tasted this salad but think it was either in the late 1970's or sometime in the 1980's.  Yea, that long ago!  
Years pasted and one summer after having a nice crop of home grown broccoli I decided to once again look up the recipe.
Broccoli Salad is simple to make, has ingredients you may already have on hand and is delicious. 
And a great way to get kids to eat broccoli!

Garden Fresh Broccoli

Broccoli Salad

INGREDIENTS:

3 to 4 heads of fresh broccoli

1 small to medium red onion

1/2 pound bacon

1/2 to 3/4 cup golden raisins

1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise

1/4 to 1/2 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Fry bacon until evenly brown and crisp. Cool and crumble.

Cook bacon and crumble

Wash broccoli, remove stems and cut into bite-size pieces. Place broccoli into a large mixing bowl.

Wash broccoli and remove stem

Dice the onion.  

Dice the onion

Add the raisins and chopped nuts to the broccoli.  I use Sun Maid Golden Raisins because they remain soft and chewy.  Dark raisins or dried cranberries (Craisins for Thanksgiving) can be substituted.
If you have a nut allergy, just omit the nuts.

Add walnuts and raisins

Add the bacon and onions to the broccoli and mix all together. Set aside.

Add onion and bacon and stir well

To prepare the dressing: In a small bowl mix the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together until smooth. 

I add 1/4 cup of sugar but if you want it a little sweeter add 1/2 cup.

Add vinegar, mayo and sugar together 

Hellman's mayonnaise is the best to use with this recipe.  If you prefer Miracle Whip you may want to reduce the amount of sugar. 

Mix the salad dressing

Stir dressing into the salad then chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours to blend flavors together.

Broccoli Salad ready to eat!

Tip:  
Someone messaged me that they add cherry tomatoes cut in half to this broccoli salad recipe.  And although I haven't tried it yet I think it sounds wonderful.  Especially in the hot summer months when cherry tomatoes are hanging on the vines in my garden just begging to be eaten!!

PRINT RECIPE

I usually serve Broccoli Salad year round, but also have it at our annual Fall Party,  served it at my daughter Jami's baby shower and serve it as an added vegetable dish at Thanksgiving. 

Elizabeth


Other Blog Posts

Italian Dinner Party

Halloween Costume Ideas

July 4th Decorations