Plant-Based Broccoli Salad
My kids devoured this for dinner! I made a soup to go with it, but could have stopped at just the salad. They kept going back for more, which was awesome. They all enjoy cooked broccoli but are usually hesitant about raw broccoli. Raw broccoli is one of the best anti-cancer and overall healthy foods you can eat, however, so finding a way they really enjoy it was a huge win!
Growing up, Broccoli Salad was a delicious discovery. The combination of sweet and tangy dressing with grapes and broccoli was kind of magical. I remember making sure to take the recipe with me to college.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago when I was trying to help my dad eat all of the cancer-fighting foods he could. Broccoli has powerful anti-cancer properties, and you need some raw broccoli to activate the enzyme that is so good at battling the cancer cells and strengthening new ones. The broccoli, grapes, onions and more were all on the good list, but the dressing of miracle whip and sugar had to go!
After some experimentation, I created this and it was a hit! My dad was always as honest as my kids with his opinions of my creations, so when he was really enjoying it I knew I had a winner.
This salad is packed with power foods:
Broccoli: In a study of 12,000 African American pre-menopausal women, those eating at least 6 half cup servings of cruciferous vegetables had 41% lower breast cancer rates. Broccoli is king among the crucifers (although broccoli sprouts can produce about 100x more sulforophane, the primary cancer fighting compound [sprouting tips]) and you need to have a least some of it raw to activate the enzyme.
Garlic and Onions: part of the alium family, garlic and onions have been shown again and again to destroy cancer cells.
The cashew based dressing is full of healthy fats and protein, gently sweetened with a few dates and takes it’s kick from apple cider vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar is touted as a major health food, and to my knowledge lemon juice has even more research to solidify our knowledge of it’s cancer-fighting properties. Either will work here!
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time | 0 |
| Passive Time | 0 |
| Servings |
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- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 8 dates pits, etc. removed
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 8 cups bize-broccoli florets about 4 crowns broccoli
- 3 cups diced apple or halved grapes
- 2/3 cups diced walnuts
- 1/2 cup diced red or green onion
Ingredients
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- Soak cashews and dates in water while you chop broccoli, apples or grapes, walnuts and onion.
- Puree cashews and dates with remaining ingredients until smooth. Add additional water if needed to thin.
- Combine all ingredients and serve.
If making salad in advance, chop apples and add walnuts just before serving.