🍎🥦 Mediterranean Honeycrisp Apple Broccoli Salad

A fresh, vibrant twist on classic broccoli salad, this Mediterranean-inspired version combines crisp Honeycrisp apples, crunchy broccoli, toasted nuts, and a light olive oil–based dressing with lemon and herbs. It’s naturally sweet, savory, and tangy — perfect as a refreshing side dish or light lunch.

This salad pairs beautifully with grilled fish, roasted chicken, or as part of a mezze spread.

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🌿 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• ✔ Crisp, sweet-tart flavor from Honeycrisp apples

• ✔ Mediterranean ingredients like olive oil, lemon, feta, and herbs

• ✔ No heavy mayo dressing

• ✔ Ready in 20 minutes

• ✔ Great for meal prep

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🥗 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

Salad:

• 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (small bite-sized pieces)

• 1 large Honeycrisp apple, diced (leave skin on for color and texture)

• ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion

• ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese

• ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds or chopped walnuts

• ¼ cup dried cranberries or chopped dates

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

• Optional: 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds

Mediterranean Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon honey

• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1 small garlic clove, finely minced

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prep the broccoli:
   Wash and thoroughly dry. Cut into very small florets for best texture.

2. Dice the apple:
   Cut into small cubes. Toss lightly with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning.

3. Make the dressing:
   In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon, garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.

4. Assemble the salad:
   In a large bowl, combine broccoli, apple, red onion, feta, nuts, dried fruit, and parsley.

5. Dress and toss:
   Pour dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.

6. Chill (optional but recommended):
   Refrigerate 20–30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

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🍽 Serving Suggestions

• Serve alongside grilled chicken skewers

• Pair with baked salmon

• Add chickpeas for a vegetarian protein boost

• Stuff into pita pockets for a Mediterranean-style sandwich

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🥙 Mediterranean Flavor Notes

This salad reflects Mediterranean principles:

• Heart-healthy olive oil

• Fresh herbs

• Light citrus dressing

• Nuts and seeds

• Minimal processed ingredients

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❓ Q & A

Q: Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! It keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days. Add nuts just before serving to keep them crunchy.

Q: Can I substitute the feta?

Absolutely. Try goat cheese for creaminess or omit for a dairy-free option.

Q: Is this salad keto-friendly?

It can be. Omit the dried fruit and honey to lower the carb content.

Q: How do I soften raw broccoli slightly?

For a softer texture, blanch broccoli in boiling water for 30 seconds, then immediately transfer to ice water and drain well.

Q: What protein can I add to make it a full meal?

Grilled chicken, shrimp, chickpeas, or quinoa work beautifully.