Southern Broccoli Salad

By Kay Chun

Published June 26, 2022

  • A classic Southern salad of broccoli, bacon, cheese, raisins and chopped onions sits on an oval baby blue serving platter. A gold serving spoon and fork rest at the bottom edge of the platter.
    Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Frances Boswell.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(648)
Comments
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A classic sweet and savory Southern broccoli salad combines raw (or barely cooked) broccoli with sweet dried fruit (typically raisins or cranberries), crunchy sunflower seeds and savory Cheddar in a creamy, tangy mayonnaise dressing. Briefly blanching the broccoli in boiling water ensures bright green veggies with a crisp-tender texture. The salad gets better with time, so make it a few hours ahead and refrigerate it. (Reserve the crispy bacon and sprinkle it on top right before serving.) And, if your tastes skew sweet, further increase the sugar by another tablespoon.

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 10 servings

  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and pepper

  • 8 ounces bacon (any type) 

  • 10 cups (1 ½ pounds) 1- to 1½-inch broccoli florets 

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 

  • 1 cup coarsely grated Cheddar 

  • ½ cup golden raisins

  • ½ cup roasted, salted sunflower seeds

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 to 10 servings)

13 grams carbs; 37 milligrams cholesterol; 386 calories; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 14 grams polyunsaturated fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 34 grams fat; 3 grams fiber; 795 milligrams sodium; 10 grams protein; 8 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.

  2. Step 2

    Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain; discard bacon fat or reserve for another use. Chop the bacon into bite-size pieces.

  3. Step 3

    Meanwhile, add broccoli to boiling water and cook until bright green, 1 minute. Rinse under cold water until cool (or transfer to an ice bath). Drain broccoli well and pat dry.

  4. Step 4

    In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, onion, vinegar and sugar and mix well. Add the broccoli, cheese, raisins and sunflower seeds. Season with salt and pepper, and toss until well combined. (If time allows, refrigerate for 30 minutes to 3 hours to allow flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.)

  5. Step 5

    Transfer broccoli salad to a serving bowl or platter. Top with bacon. Salad can be served immediately, or refrigerated and served chilled.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
648 user ratings
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Comments

petals356

We make a version of this at the hotel I’ve been working for,however we soak the cranberries in Earl Grey black tea for about 10 minutes before draining well and adding…personally I don’t like EG but this gives it a lovely fresh taste!

cook.bot

This recipe is pretty much exactly how broccoli salad gets made in my region of the Carolinas, except I personally prefer pepita (pumpkin) seeds to the sunflowers, and also think the salad's texture is better served with cheddar that's cut in tiny cubes rather than shredded.

Tracy

Yum. For anyone wondering about the amount of Mayo, I only used 2 heaping tablespoons and found it to be more than enough. Delicious.

Stephanie

This is also a popular salad in Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine.

Pegmat

I know this classic deli salad from Safeway grocery store on the west coast. I have made this delicious salad using dried cranberries and pepitas, 2Tbs sugar, no cheese and a tsp of Dijon in the dressing. Love this salad and it keeps a few days in the fridge if you don’t quite finish it. No need to blanch the broccoli florets if you chop or break them up a lot; in fact I use the stems but you need to chop them up. We like the crunch!

Dman

Excellent just as is Loved it

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