Broccoli and apple salad with pecans is a great summer side. Healthy vegetables and fruits combine with a tangy and sweet dressing.
I recently served this salad with grilled chicken and potato salad. It is fresh and flavorful and can be made ahead of time. It’s exactly what you want for an easy summer dinner. This salad has wide appeal and would make a great addition to a potluck.
Elements
Broccoli: One of our favorite vegetables is the basis for this salad.
Carrot: Shredded carrot gives the salad flavor and a nice pop of color.
Apple: I like a sweet, crisp eating apple, like Gala, for this salad. Peeling is optional. I have served the salad both ways, and either is good.
Red Onion: You can use any onion, but I like the flavor and color of red onions for this salad.
Pecans: Walnuts would also work, but I am partial to pecans.
Raisins: You could also use golden raisins or craisins if you are raisin-averse, like I used to be. Now I love them all.
Mayo & Sour Cream: The combination of mayonnaise and sour cream creates the basis for the dressing. I use light mayo and full-fat sour cream.
Lemon Juice: Adds a nice tangy flavor and helps the apples stay fresh in the salad.
Sugar: Gives the dressing a hint of sweetness.
Salt & Black Pepper: Enhances the flavors.
Preparation
You will start by prepping the ingredients. Chop the broccoli into small bite-sized pieces and grate the carrot. The apple can be peeled or not; it’s great either way. Chop the onion. Pecans are typically purchased whole or pre-chopped. Even when I buy them chopped, I usually give them another rough chop so the pieces are of uniform size. Add everything to a large bowl along with the raisins.
Add the mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper to a small bowl. Stir together the ingredients and pour over the broccoli mixture. The dressing is folded in until everything is coated.
Serve broccoli and apple salad with pecans immediately or place in the refrigerator, covered, until serving.
Broccoli and Apple Salad with Pecans
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 2 medium heads of broccoli chopped into small pieces
- 1 large carrot grated
- 1 apple- peeled if desired, cored and finely chopped
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- ½ cup pecans coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup raisins
Dressing Ingredients:
- ½ cup mayonnaise I use light
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Combine chopped broccoli, grated carrot, chopped apple, chopped onion, chopped pecans, and raisins.
- To make the dressing, combine: mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Mix the dressing into the salad. Serve immediately or let the salad sit covered in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.