Broccoli Madness Salad

My sister introduce me to the idea of making this salad at home. This salad is inspired by the Broccoli Madness Salad from Sweet Tomatoes. I was never much of a fan of raw broccoli until I tried this salad. There is so much different flavors mixed in this salad that the raw flavor of the broccoli is unnoticeable, but the crunch is definitely there.

My version of the salad is lighter with the use of yogurt instead of full mayonnaise. In addition, the amount of sugar is reduced. This is a great salad to make to get your family to eat more veggies or take it with you to a potluck. The recipe is simple to make ahead of time because unlike green leaves, the broccoli won't wilt. It is one of my to go to recipes when I want to make a salad on Sunday evening to bring with me for lunch over the course of the week.

Broccoli Madness Salad

Ingredients:

Salad dressing

1/4 c. mayonnaise

1/4 c. plain Greek yogurt

2 Tbs red wine vinegar

2 Tbs garlic, minced

Salad

5 c. raw broccoli, cut into bite size pieces 

1/2 c. bacon strip, cut into bite size (~5 strips)

1/2 c. cashews

1/2 c. purple onion, sliced

1/2 c. carrots, julienne (~1 carrot)

1/2 c. dried cranberries

4 green onions, chopped white section

Directions:

1. To make the dressing, whisk all the ingredients. Mix thoroughly and set aside in the refrigerator. 

2.  In a serving bowl, mix all the salad ingredients together

3. Add the dressing to the salad ingredients and toss. Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.