Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad

🥗 Mediterranean Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the Salad

• 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped small

• 2 Honeycrisp apples, cored and diced (leave peel on for color)

• ½ cup red onion, finely sliced

• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

• ⅓ cup kalamata olives, sliced

• ½ cup cucumber, diced

• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

• ¼ cup toasted almonds or pine nuts

• ¼ cup fresh parsley or mint, chopped

Optional Add-ins

• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed (for extra protein)

• 1 tablespoon capers (for extra tang)

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For the Mediterranean Dressing

• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup

• 1 small garlic clove, minced

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Prep the Ingredients

   • Cut broccoli into bite-size florets.

   • Dice the Honeycrisp apples and toss with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.

   • Slice the onion, olives, and chop other vegetables.

2. Blanch the Broccoli (optional)

   • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

   • Add broccoli for 30–45 seconds, then drain and rinse under cold water.
     (This keeps the crunch but removes raw bitterness.)

3. Make the Dressing

   • In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper.

   • Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

4. Assemble the Salad

   • In a large bowl, combine broccoli, apples, onion, cucumber, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs.

   • Pour the dressing over and toss to coat.

5. Add Toppings

   • Sprinkle with feta and nuts before serving.

6. Chill (optional)

   • For best flavor, chill 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.

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Serving Suggestions

• Serve as a side dish for grilled chicken, salmon, or falafel.

• Add quinoa or couscous for a heartier meal.

• Great for meal prep — stays fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge.

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Nutritional Highlights (per serving, approx.)

• Calories: 280

• Protein: 6g

• Fat: 20g (mostly healthy fats from olive oil & nuts)

• Fiber: 5g

• Sugar: 10g (natural from apples and honey)