Description
This vibrant Vegan Broccoli Salad is a refreshing and nutritious dish that combines crunchy broccoli, toasted walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sweet dried cranberries tossed in a tangy and slightly sweet olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing with a hint of mint and optional orange juice. Perfect as a light lunch or a healthy side dish, this salad is easy to prepare and packed with flavors and textures that delight the palate while being completely plant-based.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dressing
- ⅛ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons agave
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced mint
- 1 tablespoon orange juice (optional)
For the Salad
- 4 cups chopped broccoli
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a standard bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, agave, minced mint, and orange juice if using, until the mixture is thoroughly combined and emulsified, creating a tangy and slightly sweet dressing.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the chopped broccoli, chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries, ensuring an even distribution of all components for balanced flavor and texture.
- Toss salad with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture and gently toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing, enhancing the flavors and bringing the salad together.
Notes
- For best texture, use fresh broccoli florets and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Toast the walnuts and pumpkin seeds lightly in a dry skillet to enhance their crunch and flavor before adding to the salad.
- The orange juice is optional but adds a subtle citrus brightness to the dressing. Omit it if you prefer a more vinegar-forward taste.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and kept refrigerated; toss again before serving to redistribute the dressing.
- Feel free to substitute agave with maple syrup or another liquid sweetener of your choice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Vegan
Keywords: vegan broccoli salad, easy vegan salad, healthy broccoli salad, walnut pumpkin seed salad, no-cook salad, vegan side dish
