Best 6 Quick Italian Broccoli Salad Recipes

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**Broccoli Salad: A Refreshing and Nutritious Italian Treat**

Broccoli salad, a vibrant and delectable dish, is a staple in Italian cuisine, enjoyed for its refreshing flavors and abundance of nutrients. Originating from the Lazio region of Italy, this salad showcases the versatility of broccoli, transforming it from a simple vegetable into a culinary delight. Our collection of recipes explores various interpretations of this classic, offering a range of tastes and textures to suit every palate. From the traditional broccoli salad with a tangy vinaigrette dressing to innovative variations incorporating roasted broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and even pasta, our recipes provide a delightful journey through the culinary landscapes of Italy. Whether you seek a light and refreshing side dish or a flavorful vegetarian main course, our broccoli salad recipes are sure to tantalize your taste buds and nourish your body.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

QUICK ITALIAN BROCCOLI SALAD



Quick Italian Broccoli Salad image

Brighten up your winter meals with this crisp and colorful salad. Tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and red onions mingle with crunchy water chestnuts, all draped in a zesty bottled dressing. Dorothy Myrick of Kent, Washington shared this recipe.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 10m

Yield 9 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 small red onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup reduced-fat Italian salad dressing
1-1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, onion, water chestnuts and mushrooms. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Add tomatoes; gently toss.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 38 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 295mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

SUNNY'S QUICK STEAMED BROCCOLI SALAD



Sunny's Quick Steamed Broccoli Salad image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Categories     side-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

Two 10- to 12-ounce bags steamable broccoli florets, such as Birds Eye
4 to 6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 clove garlic, grated on a rasp grater
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sriracha
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
Freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Steps:

  • For the broccoli: Steam the broccoli according to the package directions.
  • Add the thyme, garlic and zest to a large bowl and brush or rub the ingredients against the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the steamed broccoli and toss. Refrigerate until chilled.
  • For the dressing: In a medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, sriracha, lemon juice, sugar and some black pepper. Whisk until the sugar dissolves.
  • For the salad: Add the red onions, raisins and cranberries to the bowl with the dressing. Stir to combine.
  • Discard the thyme from the broccoli. Add the dressing and gently fold until the broccoli is evenly coated. Serve chilled or at room temperature sprinkled with the almonds.

EASY BROCCOLI SALAD



Easy Broccoli Salad image

After sampling this broccoli salad at a barbecue, the recipe was given to me without any measurements. I can toss to together, and it turns out great everytime. -Sara Sherlock, Pork Alice, British Columbia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 15m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

1-1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, bacon and onion. In another bowl, whisk mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Pour over broccoli mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420 calories, Fat 35g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 63mg cholesterol, Sodium 585mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 15g protein.

ITALIAN BROCCOLI SALAD



Italian Broccoli Salad image

This is great with an Italian dinner, esp spaghetti but try adding in some leftover cooked pasta and cooked meat (chicken is great) and you have a perfect for summer main dish salad! Cooking time is time to chill to allow flavors to meld.

Provided by LAURIE

Categories     Peppers

Time 2h10m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 1/2 lbs broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup green onion, choppe
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
1/2 cup red pepper, julienne strips
1/2 cup yellow pepper, julienne strips
1 cup Italian dressing (light or regular)

Steps:

  • Cook broccoli to tender crisp and cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl, add broccoli, onions, black olives and peppers.
  • Add Italian dressing and toss to coat evenly.
  • Chill for 1-2 hours and stir before serving.
  • Serve as a salad or over pasta.

ITALIAN BROCCOLI SALAD



Italian Broccoli Salad image

This adaptable make-ahead salad is a great instant lunch or side dish. It starts with raw broccoli florets and stems, thinly sliced into irregular shapes to create many textures. As the broccoli sits with salt and vinegar, it softens and becomes slaw. Its mellow flavor is contrasted by the loud ingredients typically found in an Italian sub or chopped salad, like shallots, pickled peppers, olives and provolone. Feel free to add more protein in the form of cured meats, chickpeas, lentils or mozzarella; vegetables like sweet tomatoes or iceberg lettuce; or basil.

Provided by Ali Slagle

Categories     dinner, easy, lunch, salads and dressings, vegetables, main course, side dish

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 small shallot, thinly sliced
1 1/2 pounds broccoli (about 2 medium heads)
Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
1/2 cup roasted, salted almonds, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup drained, sliced pickled peppers, such as peperoncini
1/4 cup pitted, torn olives, such as kalamata or Castelvetrano
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
1/3 cup red wine vinegar, plus more as needed
3 slices provolone (about 3 ounces), torn or cut into bite-size pieces (or use 1 1/2 ounces aged provolone)

Steps:

  • Rinse the sliced shallot under cold water and transfer to a large bowl.
  • Cut the stalks away from the broccoli heads. Using a knife or vegetable peeler, remove the fibrous outer layer of the stalks so its light green insides emerge; compost or discard the outer layer. Thinly slice the stalks crosswise, then thinly slice the heads into bite-size pieces. (A mix of shapes and sizes adds texture to the salad, so chop up the broccoli a few ways; there's no one right way to go about it.) Transfer to the large bowl as you go, then transfer any loose bits from the cutting board to the bowl.
  • Season the broccoli generously with salt and pepper, then add the almonds, pickled peppers, olives, oil, vinegar and provolone. Toss vigorously with a spoon until everything is combined and the broccoli is shiny with oil.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, oil and vinegar as needed. Let sit at least 10 minutes before serving. The salad improves with age as its flavors meld, and it can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Before serving, bring to room temperature and adjust salt, pepper, oil and vinegar to taste, as flavors change in the fridge.

BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD



Broccoli Pasta Salad image

A quick and tasty pasta salad that can be served warm or cold.

Provided by Happy On My Hill

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (8 ounce) package linguine pasta
1 (12 ounce) bag broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
¼ cup olive oil
4 teaspoons minced garlic
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup finely shredded Romano cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
salt to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the linguine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; drain and return to pot.
  • Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add broccoli, cover, and steam until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir garlic and red pepper flakes until garlic is fragrant, 1 to 3 minutes. Add garlic mixture and broccoli to linguine; gently toss to coat. Add Romano cheese, parsley, black pepper, and salt; toss to combine.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 275.3 calories, Carbohydrate 32.2 g, Cholesterol 10.3 mg, Fat 12.8 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 9.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 141 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh and tender broccoli. If your broccoli is older, you may need to blanch it briefly before using.
  • To save time, you can use a food processor to chop the broccoli and other vegetables.
  • If you don't have any red onion on hand, you can use a white or yellow onion instead.
  • Feel free to adjust the amount of vinegar and olive oil to your liking.
  • This salad is best served chilled, so make it ahead of time and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • Serve this salad as a side dish or main course. It's also great for potlucks and picnics.

Conclusion:

This quick and easy Italian broccoli salad is a delicious and healthy side dish that's perfect for any occasion. It's made with fresh broccoli, red onion, carrots, celery, and a simple vinaigrette dressing. The salad is light and refreshing, and it's packed with nutrients. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious salad to serve, give this Italian broccoli salad a try. You won't be disappointed!

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