One of the salads that appears often – maybe too often - at barbecues and family get-togethers during the summer is the ubiquitous broccoli salad with bacon and cheese dressed with a sweet and sour dressing. It’s a good salad, but by mid-summer, it’s been served so many times, a change is welcome. My sister, Dana, introduced the following broccoli salad to our family and it has become the broccoli salad of choice. The cashews and dried cranberries are a refreshing change, and as a bonus, this one is a little lower in fat and calories because it has no cheese. (Not that this one is low in either fat or calories – few things really good ever are - but it’s nice to cut where possible; that way we can eat a little more.) Lowfat mayonnaise is acceptable in the dressing, and is another way to cut a few calories, however, that non-fat stuff is an absolute no-no, as in “no-no” one will be able to stomach it! I’ve included nutrition facts for both versions below.
Dana Ford’s Other Broccoli Salad is quick to put together; just five main ingredients. Save time by using the cooked and crumbled bacon in the package. It takes only a minute or two to throw the five dressing ingredients in the blender; alternately, they can be quickly whisked together.
If you’re a fan of broccoli salads, make sure you give this one a try. It’ll be a nice change and everyone will love it.
20 Servings
Salad
3 pounds broccoli flowerettes
1/4 cup red onions, chopped
1 pound bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
1 cup coarsely chopped cashews
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise, (light is okay, non-fat is not okay)
1 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon mustard
- Wash the broccoli, cut off and discard any long stems, if any, and slice.
- Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Mix the dressing ingredients either in the blender or in a bowl with a wire whisk.
- Pour over the broccoli, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until 15 minutes before serving time, up to 24 hours ahead
- Just before serving, stir in the onions, bacon, cashews, and cranberries.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 265 Calories from Fat 185
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 70% Protein 9% Carb. 21%
Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 21 g
Saturated Fat 6 g
Cholesterol 27 mg
Sodium 219 mg
Total Carbohydrate 14 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 5 g
Protein 6 g
Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 111% Calcium 0% Iron 6%
Nutrition Information if the dressing is made with lowfat mayonnaise:
Amount Per Serving
Calories 214 Calories from Fat 126
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 59% Protein 11% Carb. 30%
Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 14 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Cholesterol 26 mg
Sodium 214 mg
Total Carbohydrate 16 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 5 g
Protein 6 g
Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 111% Calcium 0% Iron 6%
