I took a photo of this salad and only just before serving did I realize that I had forgotten to top it with toasted pecans and sprouted beans. Ooops! At least I realized this before I served it as part of our dinner. The pecans and the sprouts added bonus flavour and crunch. It was summer salad perfection in the middle of spring!
For this salad, I didn’t go the raw broccoli route, but just steamed them ever-so slightly so that the crunch remained and colour popped. But the real inspiration for this was half an orange I had in the fridge. It wasn’t just any orange, it was a Minneola which is slightly tarter than a regular navel and a bit more lumpy. I love them and figured that it would really help to perk up the pedestrian vegetables in my crisper. I was so right. The orange went so well with all the vegetables. A bit of a warning though, the dressing is thin and runny and doesn’t have that thickness that it would if I would have added mustard or honey. But I’m okay with that and so are the vegetables since it really lets the orangeness of the dish shine. And I’m certainly okay with a bit of orange sunshine right about now.
crunchy broccoli, carrot & red onion salad
1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
1 large carrot, sliced into coins
1/2 red onion, sliced thinly
2 T toasted pecans
1/4 c sprouted beansdressing:
1/2 of an orange, juice + zest
1/4 c olive oil
splash of rice vinegar
salt & pepperSteam broccoli for 3 minutes until it turns bright green. Rinse under cold water until cool. Toss in bowl with carrots and onion. Shake dressing ingredients in a jar and taste. Taste & re-season, if necessary. Throw it over the salad and toss well to blend. Top with sprouts and toasted pecans.
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BROCCOLI!!!!!!!! My love.
Ohmygosh this looks refreshing!! Yum!
Molly
I’m making this for dinner tonight. I am on my way to the store right now.
YOU ROCK
Mmm delicious salad.
I do love ever so slightly steamed broccoli in salads and a bit of orange sunshine is welcome at any time 🙂
I love broccoli–am ALWAYS looking for new ways to prepare it. This looks awesome.
I love it too veggiegirl!
yay, hope you love it rawbean!
molly, it is.
eatme, it’s very crunchy and delicious 🙂
dailyspud, hello orange sunshine!
me too cakespy! maybe there’s a broccoli cake in the works??
Sounds so good! I love broccoli – believe it or not it’s my favorite veggie!
that look SOOOOO delish!
Looks beautiful, tasty, and healthy, too!
Love that you lightly steamed the broccoli, it’s so much better than raw in my opinion 🙂
Maris, I’m a broccoli lover too. Let’s start a club!
Lola, it’s pretty delicious, no foolin’!
Lynn, it’s all of the above!
Stephchows, I agree. Raw broccoli is too crunky for me.
That looks delicious!!!
Betsy
http://affordableinteriordesign.blogspot.com/
Looks so simple and delicious. I love orange based dressings!
Thanks Betsy!
Jodye, me too 🙂
broccoly is one of my fav vegie. and you know i used to include broccol in almost every salad i prep at home. this salad tasted great.. i lovedd it. and my husband loved it too 🙂 thanx a lot for sharing this amazing recipe