This Easy Broccoli Raisin Salad with pistachios and herbs is my go-to when wanting to add a little extra vegetables to my lunch. I love to enjoy this as a side with a sandwich instead of chips.
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Continuing on with my commitment to bring you easy and simple recipes during the pandemic, today I’m sharing one of my favorite go-to salads to make for lunch. I love having this easy broccoli raisin salad as a side along with a veggie sandwich instead of chips. What makes this healthy broccoli salad so addicting is that it’s the perfect blend of savory (broccoli) + sweet (golden raisins) + heat (chili pepper flakes) + crunch (pistachios). Plus, it’s super versatile so you can adapt it to use whatever you have on hand (more on that below).
You can prepare the broccoli however you usually prefer it for this salad as long as you continue to maintain a crunch (aka don’t overcook it). I love giving my broccoli a simple steam, but this recipe would also be delicious with raw broccoli or roasted, depending on how you prefer yours.
Also, this broccoli and raisin salad is delicious right after it’s been prepared but is even better the next day after the dressing has had time to soak into the broccoli. If you do decide to prepare it the day before, consider holding off on adding the pistachios until right before serving so they don’t get soggy.
What’s Needed for Broccoli Raisin Salad?
The ingredients list for this vegetarian broccoli salad is fairly simple:
- Fresh broccoli
- Olive oil
- Garam masala
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- White wine vinegar
- Honey
- Garlic chili sauce
- Golden raisins
- Chopped pistachios
- Fresh cilantro
How to Make Broccoli Raisin Salad
I’ve given detailed instructions in the recipe card below on how to make this healthy broccoli and raisin salad, but here are the basics:
- Heat olive oil in a small skillet, then add the garam masala and garlic and sauté just until the garlic starts to brown.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the lemon juice, vinegar, honey, garlic chili sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss in the golden raisins.
- In a separate mixing bowl, toss together the broccoli, pistachios, and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing and golden raisin mixture into the broccoli mixture and toss to combine.
Ingredient Substitutions
With the ongoing pandemic, I plan to give as many substitution suggestions as possible so you can continue to cook without having to run out to the store. Although some of these suggestions may vary the end result, I only make suggestions if I think it will still be delicious. Here is a list of substitute suggestions for this Easy Broccoli Raisin Salad recipe in case you don’t have certain ingredients on hand:
Broccoli – If you don’t have any broccoli on hand, you could use cauliflower instead. Also, it will change the salad substantially but you could also use carrot coins instead.
Golden Raisins – Any type of dried fruit (think apricots, craisins, etc) could work here but make sure to cut them into small pieces the size of a raisin so you don’t get too much sweet with each bite.
Cilantro – As long as you like the flavor of them, most fresh soft herbs would work such as parsley or dill. I would avoid dried herbs if possible.
Pistachios – Chopped and toasted walnuts, pecans, or almonds are great alternatives for this salad.
Olive Oil – Any other neutral oil will work as long as you like the flavor.
White Wine Vinegar – You’ve got two options here if you don’t have white wine vinegar: option 1 is to just add more lemon juice and option 2 is to replace with another vinegar such as red wine or apple cider.
Want More Vegetarian Potluck Sides?
- Summer Pasta Salad with Dill Vinaigrette
- Mac Salad
- Thai Quinoa Salad with Ginger Peanut Butter Dressing
- Fruit Salad with Tahini Granola and Creamy Yogurt
- Mint Feta Lime Melon Salad
This Easy Broccoli Raisin Salad with pistachios and herbs is my go-to when wanting to add a little extra vegetables to my lunch. I love to enjoy this as a side with a sandwich instead of chips.
- 1 large head broccoli , cut into bite-sized pieces*
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garam masala (or yellow curry powder)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp garlic chili sauce (or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes)
- salt and pepper , to taste
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped pistachios
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
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Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garam masala or curry powder and garlic and sauté for 1 minute or just until the garlic starts to brown. Remove from heat and whisk in the lemon juice, vinegar, honey, garlic chili sauce (or red pepper flakes), and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss in the golden raisins and set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, toss together the broccoli, pistachios, and cilantro until combined. Pour the dressing and golden raisin mixture into the broccoli mixture and toss to combine. Taste and season with more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes, as needed.
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Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge.
*The broccoli can be raw, steamed, or roasted — whichever way you prefer it but just make sure it maintains a crunch!
1 Comment
Martha
This was such an incredible an easy recipe! Hubby loved it too. Thanks for sharing!