I recently posted that I wasn’t a fan of raw broccoli. A few days later after making that statement, I made a raw broccoli salad. Crunky or not, I went with it and I liked it. I guess that means that I’m fickle and to take what I say with a grain of salt. Whatever, a girl has the right to change her mind!
This salad is crunchy from all the raw vegetables and toasted pecans and sweet-tart from the Granny Smith and the dried cranberries. The feta adds the salt and the lemon and yogurt add tang. It’s kind of like a Waldorf Salad, but much more colourful. Plus, it’s easy to whip up and downright healthy to boot. What’s not to love?
Want more raw? Then check out my latest post for Food Network Canada where I review Gorilla Food, a raw, vegan, organic cafe in downtown Vancouver. The owner/chef used to be the personal chef for Beastie Boy, Mike D and the food is totally delicious and uber-healthy in a very tasty way.
raw vegetable salad with yogurt-feta dressing
1 head of broccoli, torn into florets and then chopped relatively small + stalks peeled and sliced
1 carrot, diced
1/2 orange pepper (red, yellow or green would be fine too)
1/4 red onion, finely diced
1 Granny Smith apple, diced
3 T plain yogurt
3 T crumbled feta cheese
juice & zest of 1/2 lemon
1 garlic clove, minced
freshly ground pepper
2 T dried cranberries
3 T toasted chopped pecansIn a serving bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients, broccoli through apple. In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, feta, lemon juice & zest, garlic and pepper to create a dressing. Taste and adjust ingredients, if needed. Toss dressing with vegetables and sprinkle with cranberries and pecans.
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Mmm, this *does* look good! I’m not a fan of raw broccoli, either, but sometimes it surprises me! Especially when the florets are broken up into wee chunks and combined with other stuff. A friend of mine once made a broccoli slaw that I adored, even though I normally hate slaw and raw broccoli. Amazing what the right combination can do!
Raw broccoli I like BUT it does not like me (that happens when you get older!) Off to make a salad for lunch though the process, the colors, the taste…nothing better…well there is..yes I will have chocolate for desert!
‘Crunky’? I want to make it just so I can use that word! I’m glad you stuck with the broccoli – I love the stuff.
Fabulous, fresh salad!
The word crunky alone, just made this salad taste so much better. I’ve been eating lots of salads lately so I’ll add this one to my collection. The raw broccoli I can handle but raw cauliflower, not so much.
I haven’t ever tried raw brocolli – I don’t think!? The salad looks great though. I adore feta so Im sure I would love it
That sounds very tasty! I’ll have to try that dressing.
This might be my new favourite broccoli salad with the apples and cranberries…. and no bacon:D I am headed to the farmers market:D
Just discovered your excellent blog today, via Allison of ‘unruly things.’ I’m in love with this recipe and will definately be trying it. bookmarked you to come back again and again. Thanks for sharing.
We love broccoli, but i have never thought of eaten it raw. We will try this for sure. Thanks, Pauline
Sounds wonderful, I can’t wait to try this!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I am also not a fan of raw broccoli, but this salad looks great. I just love feta cheese, so maybe that will encourage me to try this salad, and to embrace raw broccoli!
I’m intrigued – this salad seems like an artful cross between the walnutty waldorf salad and broccoli-raisin salad…both of which I love! Must give it a go…
i agree, fawn, that the broccoli should be chopped smaller than if you were steaming it.
oh well, elk, chocolate it is!
lysy, please get crunky!
thanks veggiegirl.
bijoux, i do like raw cauliflower a bit more than raw broccoli, but you should try this salad. it had me converted!
beth, this is pretty tasty and a good way to welcome in some raw broc.
thanks spare ribbon, it’s pretty delicious!
bellini, i hope you give this a try!
thanks for stopping by and saying hello, molly!
pauline, let me know how you like raw broc!
yvonne, it’s wonderful…sweet salty and crunchy!
judy, i think the feta helps a whole lot!
monika k, broccoli-raisin salad? i’ll have to keep my eye out for that! sounds good.
pearlsnotswine, yay, glad you love it!
Just made it and am eating it right now. Delicious!
i made this on friday night, and it was really good! i actually nibbled on it throughout the weekend, and it seemed to get better with a night or two spent in the fridge. the flavors melded, the raw broccoli softened a bit and the raisins plumped (couldn’t swing the $7.99 dried organic cranberries at whole foods).
margrocks, glad you made this salad!
haley, good luck on eating healthily!
This might just be the salad that inspires me to start eating more healthy again! Yum!
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Ooo yum this is exactly the kind of salad I love, and I love it even more because it’s not slathered in mayo! Will have to try it. And I’ve never heard of Gorilla Food. I’ll have to check that place out!
This sounds very tasty! I always loved broccoli salad and this sounds like a great variation!
Tried it and loved it! Best the day of, but if you have leftovers I suggest keeping the pecans out until ready to serve.
eatme, this salad is healthy and creamy all at once. it’s perfect. you should totally try gorilla foods. yum!
fiber, i think you’ll like this one then.
jules, i never had leftovers, but good tip! glad you enjoyed the salad 🙂
Thanks for the reminder of Gorilla Foods. That window is only a few blocks away from my office. I’ll suggest that for lunch this week to my friend who’s lactose intolerant. That will be perfect for her. I didn’t know they opened up a cafe now! That’s great news.
And that salad looks yummy.
carol, gorilla foods is so good and now that they actually have a cafe it’s a perfect lunch spot!
I just made this other day for some friends and added blue cheese instead of feta for the dressing. It was big hit!
Delicious dressing! The lemon and garlic adds the perfect punch that my version was missing.
Great site.