Lightened-Up Creamy Broccoli Salad

  4.0 – 7 reviews  • Salad Recipes
Healthy eating is about moderation! Two strips of bacon are all you need for a little indulgence that goes a long way flavor-wise. Buy the best quality bacon you can, nitrate-free if possible–it’ll have tons of flavor and really punch up this healthy take on a classic side dish.
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 35 min
Active: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. 2 strips low-sodium bacon
  2. 1/2 cup ice cubes
  3. 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  4. 1/2 cup buttermilk
  5. 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  6. 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  7. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  8. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  9. 6 1/2 cups broccoli florets (about 1 pound), cut into bite-size pieces
  10. 1/3 cup golden raisins
  11. 2 tablespoons salted roasted sunflower seeds

Instructions

  1. Combine the ice cubes, onions and 1 cup water in a small bowl. Let the onions soak for 10 minutes while preparing the rest of the salad, then drain and pat dry.
  2. Cook the bacon in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings for the dressing. Finely chop the bacon strips and reserve. 
  3. Whisk the buttermilk, sour cream, lemon zest and juice, reserved bacon drippings, 3/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Add the broccoli, onions and golden raisins to the dressing. Toss well, cover and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
  4. Before serving, toss well and season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and top with the chopped bacon and sunflower seeds.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 107 calorie
Total Fat 4.5 grams
Saturated Fat 2 grams
Cholesterol 9 milligrams
Sodium 198 milligrams
Carbohydrates 14 grams
Dietary Fiber 3 grams
Protein 5 grams
Sugar 7 grams

Reviews

Robin Thomas
I’m somewhere between a 3 and a 4. It was alright but felt like it was missing something.
Robert Munoz
Great recipe! Even my toddler and daughter ate it!
Tyler Livingston
I used to use mayo for creamy salad and it was surely good, but always had guilty feeling to eat whole… Thanks for this healthy creamy dressing!
Melanie Woods
what a great recipe. I hadn’t eaten broccoli salad in years because my old recipe was so fattening. but this is so light and fresh but really flavorful. I’ll be making this all summer for sure.
Ricky Mueller
All the taste sensations of the nuts, bacon, broccoli, and those expensive golden raisins were covered by a dressing that may have been healthy but it was lacking in flavor. It was a very disappointing addition to dinner.

 

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