Delicious Broccoli Cashew Salad: Your Perfect Sweet & Savory Side

Broccoli Cashew Salad is a truly delicious, vibrant, and wholesome side dish that perfectly balances sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. Imagine crisp, tender broccoli florets mingled with sweet apples and pears, crunchy cashews, and tart cranberries, all coated in a rich, creamy honey-lemon dressing. This salad is packed with flavor and satisfying textures, proving that a healthy side can be the star of any meal.

This recipe celebrates the art of contrast: the crispness of the raw broccoli against the creamy dressing, and the sweetness of the fruit against the tang of the sour cream and lemon. It’s a fantastic, make-ahead friendly dish that is guaranteed to be a hit at any gathering. You can visit our New York for more delicious recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

Feature	Benefit
Flavorful Contrast	The unique blend of sweet fruit, tart cranberries, and savory cashews.
Incredibly Creamy	A rich, homemade dressing made with mayonnaise and sour cream/yogurt.
Crunchy & Satisfying	Cashews and crisp broccoli provide excellent texture.
Make-Ahead Friendly	Best enjoyed after the flavors have blended for a few hours.
Wholesome & Healthy	Packed with healthy fats, fiber, and raw vegetables.

An Overview of Flavors and Textures

The Broccoli Cashew Salad with Apples, Pears, Cranberries, and Creamy Dressing is a captivating symphony of contrasting flavors and delightful textures.

The broccoli florets form the sturdy base, providing a fresh, tender-crisp texture. This contrasts beautifully with the soft, sweet, and slightly tart notes of the diced apples and pears. Tart, chewy dried cranberries add a burst of color and concentrated sweetness.

The creamy dressing is the highlight, a rich, smooth blend of mayonnaise and sour cream, infused with bright lemon juice and sweet honey. The dressing perfectly coats every piece.

Cashews are the textural heroes, adding an essential crunchy, nutty depth that elevates the entire salad. This Broccoli Cashew Salad is a truly addictive blend of crisp, creamy, sweet, and tangy notes.

The Star of the Show: The Sweet and Tangy Creamy Dressing

While the colorful mix of fruit and nuts is appealing, the true defining characteristic and “star” of this Broccoli Cashew Salad is the simple yet powerful Sweet and Tangy Creamy Dressing. This rich mixture, built from mayonnaise and sour cream/yogurt, provides the necessary lubrication and flavor balance for the entire salad. Infused with bright lemon juice and sweet honey, the dressing cuts through the slight bitterness of the raw broccoli and marries the sweet fruit and savory nuts. The secret is ensuring the honey is fully dissolved before mixing, resulting in a thick, velvety coating that clings perfectly to the crunchy florets, making this salad irresistible.

How to Make Your Broccoli Cashew Salad with Apples, Pears, Cranberries, and Creamy Dressing

This delicious and simple salad requires no cooking and is ready in minutes. The key is in preparing the components and allowing time for the flavors to meld.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes (or 10–15 minutes for optional cashew roasting)

Total Time: 15 minutes (plus blending time)

Servings: 4–6 portions

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

Component	Amount	Ingredient	Notes
Salad:	5 cups	Broccoli florets	Chopped into small bites
	1	Apple	Cored and diced
	1	Pear	Firm, cored, and diced
	¼ cup	Red onion	Diced
	1 cup	Cashews	Toasted or roasted
	1 cup	Dried cranberries
Creamy Dressing:	½ cup	Mayonnaise
	½ cup	Sour cream	Or kefir or Greek yogurt
	2 tablespoons	Lemon juice
	¼ cup	Honey	Softened or warmed
	¼ teaspoon	Salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped broccoli florets, diced apple, diced pear, diced red onion, cashews, and dried cranberries.
2. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream (or kefir/Greek yogurt), lemon juice, honey (ensure it’s runny), and salt. Whisk until the dressing is completely smooth and creamy.
3. Combine: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Toss the salad well to ensure all the ingredients, especially the broccoli florets, are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
4. Serve: This salad is best enjoyed fresh, but for better flavor blending, cover and refrigerate it for a few hours before serving.

Expert Tips for Your Salad

Category	Tip
Broccoli Prep	Chop the broccoli florets into small, bite-sized pieces; this makes them easier to eat and ensures the dressing adheres better.
Cashew Toasting	If your cashews are raw, toast them in a dry skillet or a preheated 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown and fragrant.
Fruit Choice	Choose firm apples and pears (like Granny Smith or Bosc) to prevent them from turning mushy once they are coated in the dressing.
Make Ahead	You can chop all the dry ingredients (broccoli, onion, nuts) ahead of time. Store the dressing separately and combine 1-2 hours before serving.
Dressing Flavor	Use Greek yogurt for a tangier, healthier dressing base. Warm the honey briefly to ensure it blends smoothly without clumping.

Conclusion: Your Deliciously Easy & Wholesome Side

The Broccoli Cashew Salad with Apples, Pears, Cranberries, and Creamy Dressing is a true delight—a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy elements that makes for a fantastic and wholesome meal. With its creamy dressing, crisp textures, and vibrant colors, it’s a dish that promises to impress every guest. Easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a new favorite, this Broccoli Cashew Salad is sure to be a beloved staple in your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I substitute the cashews?

Yes, chopped toasted walnuts or pecans work perfectly as substitutes for cashews, offering a similar crunch and healthy fat content.

How long will this salad last?

This salad is best consumed within 2 days. The broccoli remains crisp, but the dressing will eventually soften the fruit and vegetables after the second day.

Can I add bacon or chicken?

Yes, for a non-vegetarian version, adding crumbled cooked bacon or shredded cooked chicken to the salad base is a delicious and popular savory addition.

Why is the salad better after a few hours?

Allowing the salad to sit for a few hours lets the flavors of the onion, salt, and spices in the dressing fully meld into the broccoli and fruit, enhancing the overall taste.

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