Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad with Raisins
Crisp broccoli, sweet raisins and crunchy honey-roasted cashews tossed in a creamy honey-Dijon dressing. A delicious make-ahead salad for holiday gatherings.
This creamy broccoli cashew salad is packed with crisp broccoli florets, sweet raisins, thin red onion and plenty of crunchy roasted cashews. Everything is tossed in a tangy honey-Dijon dressing that is creamy, slightly sweet and full of flavour. It is an easy broccoli side salad for summer barbecues, potlucks, holiday dinners or any meal that needs something fresh and crunchy. The cashews really make it special.
Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad with a Sweet and Crunchy Twist
This creamy broccoli cashew salad with raisins combines crisp broccoli florets, sweet raisins and crunchy honey-roasted cashews in a delicious honey-Dijon dressing. Every bite has a lovely balance of sweet, tangy and savoury flavours. The creamy dressing coats the broccoli without weighing it down, while the cashews add a satisfying crunch. It’s a colourful, refreshing salad that’s easy to prepare and perfect for sharing.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Broccoli Cashew Salad
The combination of crunchy broccoli, chewy raisins and honey-roasted cashews makes this salad a little different from traditional broccoli salads. The creamy honey-Dijon dressing brings everything together with just the right amount of sweetness and tang. It’s also wonderfully convenient for entertaining. Prepare the broccoli and dressing ahead of time, then add the cashews just before serving to keep them nice and crunchy.
When to Serve This Delicious Creamy Broccoli Salad
This easy broccoli cashew salad is a lovely side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner and holiday potlucks. Its fresh crunch and slightly sweet dressing pair beautifully with roast turkey, glazed ham or grilled chicken. It’s equally delicious at summer barbecues and family gatherings, especially when you need a salad that can be prepared ahead. Serve it chilled, with a few extra honey-roasted cashews sprinkled over the top just before serving.
Fresh Ingredients for Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad
Simple Ingredients for Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad
This creamy broccoli cashew salad uses simple ingredients that work so well together: fresh broccoli florets, crunchy cashews, sweet raisins and thinly sliced red onion. A creamy honey-Dijon dressing brings everything together with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar and a little honey. Nothing complicated here. Just a crisp, colourful broccoli side salad with plenty of flavour and crunch.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad
• Choose fresh, crisp broccoli: Look for firm broccoli with tightly packed, deep green florets. Cut it into small, bite-sized pieces so every forkful has a delicious combination of vegetables, raisins and creamy dressing.
• Keep the broccoli crunchy: Use raw broccoli for that lovely fresh crunch. If you prefer a slightly softer texture, blanch it briefly in boiling water, then transfer it immediately to ice water and drain thoroughly.
• Slice the red onion thinly: Finely sliced red onion adds a little sharpness that balances the sweet raisins and creamy honey-Dijon dressing. For a milder flavour, soak the onion in cold water for 10 minutes before adding it.
• Add the cashews just before serving: Honey-roasted cashews give this creamy broccoli salad a wonderful sweet, nutty crunch. Stir them in at the last minute so they don’t become soft in the dressing.
• Balance the dressing: Taste your honey-Dijon dressing before mixing it with the broccoli. The honey adds sweetness, while Dijon mustard provides a pleasant tang. Adjust gradually so neither flavour overwhelms the salad.
• Give the raisins time to soften: Toss the raisins with the broccoli and dressing, then refrigerate for about 30 minutes. They’ll absorb a little moisture and become pleasantly plump and chewy.
• Prepare ahead for entertaining: This easy broccoli cashew salad is ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas and family gatherings. Prepare the vegetables and dressing in advance, then toss everything together and finish with the crunchy cashews just before serving.
Real Kitchen Tip: Keep Your Broccoli Cashew Salad Extra Crunchy
For the best creamy broccoli cashew salad, prepare the broccoli, raisins and honey-Dijon dressing ahead of time, but save the honey-roasted cashews until just before serving. The broccoli tastes even better after chilling in the dressing, while adding the cashews at the last minute keeps them wonderfully crunchy. It’s a simple trick that makes a big difference, especially when preparing this salad for holiday gatherings or potlucks.
Delicious Variations for Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon: Add crispy, crumbled bacon for a delicious smoky flavour. The salty bacon balances the sweet raisins and honey-Dijon dressing beautifully.
• Apple and Broccoli Cashew Salad: Toss in diced Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples for extra sweetness and crunch. A little lemon juice helps keep the apples from browning.
• Cranberry Cashew Broccoli Salad: Replace the raisins with dried cranberries for a sweet, slightly tart flavour. This colourful variation is particularly lovely for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
• Broccoli Salad with Cheddar: Add small cubes of sharp cheddar cheese for a richer, more savoury salad. Cheddar pairs wonderfully with the crunchy broccoli and sweet honey-roasted cashews.
• Lighter Greek Yogurt Dressing: Replace some of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt. You’ll get a lighter, tangier dressing that still coats the broccoli beautifully.
• Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad: Replace half the broccoli with small raw cauliflower florets. The combination adds extra crunch and makes a colourful, creamy vegetable salad for potlucks.
Creamy Broccoli Cashew Salad with Raisins
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet for roasting the cashews
- Parchment paper
- Large serving spoon or salad tongs
- Airtight container for storing the broccoli salad
Ingredients
Creamy Broccoli Salad
- 8 cups broccoli florets fresh and cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup raisins
- ¾ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1½ cups cashews roasted and divided
Honey-Roasted Cashews
- 1½ cups cashews unsalted
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Creamy Honey-Dijon Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Prepare the honey-roasted cashews.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the cashews in a bowl. Add the melted butter, honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and optional cayenne pepper. Stir until the cashews are evenly coated.
- Spread the cashews in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Keep an eye on them near the end because the honey can brown quickly. Let the cashews cool completely.
- Roughly chop about half of the roasted cashews. Leave the remaining cashews whole for topping the finished broccoli cashew salad.
Make the creamy broccoli salad dressing.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the broccoli florets, raisins, red onion and chopped cashews to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the creamy honey-Dijon dressing over the broccoli mixture. Toss well until every piece is coated. Broccoli holds dressing in all those little spaces, so take a minute and mix it thoroughly.
- Cover and refrigerate the creamy broccoli salad with raisins for at least 30 minutes. This gives the flavours time to blend while the broccoli stays fresh and crunchy.
- Just before serving, scatter the remaining whole cashews over the top. Adding them at the end gives this easy broccoli side salad the best texture and crunch.
Notes
- Cut the broccoli into small, fairly even florets. Bite-sized pieces are easier to eat and hold the creamy dressing better.
- Dry the broccoli thoroughly after washing. Any leftover water can thin the honey-Dijon dressing.
- For a milder flavour, soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain and pat it dry before adding it to the salad.
- Save some of the roasted cashews for the top. Cashews mixed into the dressing will gradually soften, while the ones added just before serving stay crisp.
- Let the broccoli raisin salad chill for 30 to 60 minutes before serving. It tastes better once the flavours have had a little time together.
- This make-ahead broccoli salad can be prepared several hours before serving. For the freshest texture, add the final cashews at the last minute.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving again.