This broccoli salad with bacon recipe is creamy, cheesy and nutty

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The salad would be a suitable side dish to serve or bring for your next grilling party, too.

Creamy salads made with mayonnaise can be too oily. I made my dressing with a big helping of plain yogurt (you can use full- or low-fat) and just a touch of mayonnaise. Shredded sharp white cheddar cheese adds creaminess, too, while the red onion gives the dish a peppery bite. It gets tanginess from a splash of apple cider vinegar and a touch of sweetness from honey.

Making yogurt at home is easier than you think

Chopped walnuts and raw sunflower seeds add flavor and protein, but you could substitute any of your favorite nuts or seeds instead.

The bacon is delicious, but, frankly, not essential. There’s plenty of fat and flavor without it.

If you use it, stir some into the salad, but reserve a portion to sprinkle on top, so it maintains a bit of crispiness.

If you don’t want to use bacon, but do want something a little smoky, try sprinkling smoked paprika on sliced mushrooms and roasting them on a sheet pan until they lose their moisture and get almost crisp. Then, toss them on top of the salad.

Scale and get a printer-friendly, desktop version of the recipe here.

Make Ahead: The dressing can be made up to 2 days ahead.

Storage Notes: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. If you’re not planning to eat the entire salad, add the dressing to the portion you plan to eat and store the salad and dressing separately.

• 5 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 6 cups (about 12 ounces) broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) coarsely shredded white cheddar cheese
• 1/2 small red onion (about 2 ounces), thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup (a generous 1 ounce) chopped walnuts, plus more for optional garnish
• 1/4 cup (a generous 1 ounce) raw sunflower seeds

• 3/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine black pepper, plus more to taste

Line a plate with a tea towel or paper towel and place it near the stove.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to the prepared plate. Discard the bacon fat or save it for another use.

In a large bowl, toss together half of the bacon, the broccoli, cheese, onion, walnuts and sunflower seeds until combined.

Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream or yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper until well combined.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Sprinkle the rest of the bacon on top, with more walnuts, if desired. Let the salad stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

Per serving (1 1/4 cups), based on 6

Calories: 232; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Sodium: 321 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Dietary Fiber: 25 g; Sugar: 5 g; Protein: 10 g

This analysis is an estimate based on available ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s or nutritionist’s advice.

Adapted from “Easy Keto in 30 Minutes” by Urvashi Pitre (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020).

Tested by Ann Maloney; email questions to [email protected].

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