The creamiest, most decadent and delicious vegan broccoli salad that comes together in just minutes! The perfect potluck dish. You’d never guess it was healthy and dairy-free!
I’m gonna go ahead and tell you that this quite possibly may be the only broccoli salad recipe your face will ever need.
And when I say quite possibly, I mean definitely. Because it’s…perfect. Did I just say that? I just said that.
Whether you do or don’t like chicken or bread or marshmallows or butterflies, I’m fairly certain you’ll love this salad.
I have vivid memories of my mom bringing home broccoli salad from the local market when I was in high school. It had oodles of mayonnaise and bacon and the like, and obviously it tasted was good. Really good! I never considered making it at home until I bought grapes and broccoli at the same time a few days ago and it dawned on me.
MAYONNAISE.
JK. Cashews. And broccoli salad! Like the one I used to eat! Nostalgia at its finest.
I just knew I could achieve that same creamy decadence with cashews, and the dressing could not be simpler. Just blend up raw cashews with a splash of pure maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. I like the grapes for that little pop of flavor, but if you’re a traditionalist, raisins all the way. It really is one of those dishes that non-vegan folk would never in a gabillion years know was vegan. That’s totally fine in my book!
Now this may shock you, but photographing fruits and veggies coated in white cashew sauce is NOT easy. I stared at these pictures for a hot minute and wondered on a scale of one to seventeen how much I hated them.
Eighteen. Pushing twenty.
Luckily I love the flavor like a twelve on a scale of one to seven.
- ¾ cup raw cashews, soaked
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp mined garlic
- heaping ½ tsp sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large broccoli crowns (florets only), finely chopped
- 1½ cups red grapes, halved
- ⅓ cup roasted salted almonds, finely chopped
- ¾ cup diced red onion
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- Place cashews in a bowl. Cover with water and soak for 2 hours or overnight. If you have a Nutribullet or high speed blender, simply soak them in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Drain cashews. Add to blender with with rest of the dressing ingredients. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
- Place broccoli, grapes, almonds, red onion, and dried cranberries in a medium or large mixing bowl. Add dressing and toss throughly to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve chilled.
[Tweet “Whip up this #Vegan Broccoli Salad for your next cookout! @TheHummusapien”]
I don’t like traditional broccoli salad because I hate mayo but I can totes get on board with this mayo-less version! YUM!
rachel @ athletic avocado recently posted…Paleo Peach Coffee Crumb Cake
The cashew sauce is perfect! And the sweet grapes! Always essential in these kinda of salads!
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The sauce would have been perfect, but I used balsamic vinegar and it made the dressing dark, but it still tasted great.
Aww come on! If anyone can make broccoli salad look pretty, it is you! Looks delish to me 🙂
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I LOVE that you have red onion in the recipe twice! But then I am an onion o holic! I usually double the amount of onion in any give recipe anyways!
i am not a big fan of broccoli salad but looking at the combo of cashew cream + grape with broccoli, i may change my mind!
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I’m loving the idea of using cashew cream instead of mayo – so freaking brilliant! This is 200% the only broccoli salad my face will ever need!
I love this healthy alternative!
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Read recipe at work, had all the ingredients! Delicious!
Thanks
You’re fast! Love it!
This is a fabulous recipe. Perfect for summer. Love it.
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I thought it was perfect for Sunday dinner. To get the bacon flavor I miss in dishes like this I added nurtition yeast and a splash of liquid hickory smoke.
Is it weird to say that I love broccoli salad? It’s not the most hip food, but it so good! I am totally on board for trying a plant-based version (though I am not anti-mayo). Thanks for sharing!
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Not weird at all! Enjoy 🙂
I have never had a broccoli salad before! It is not something us British folk have. That said, this looks TASTY.
Just made it and it is chilling in fridge to have tomorrow … husband , Mam and I had a small sample to taste and it is so delicious … I imagine it will be even tastier tomorrow !
Amazing! It gets better with age 🙂
LOVE broccoli salad!!! Thanks for this… and you’re hilarious about the pix. They are gorgeous as always. xo
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This salad is so good!!! I decreased the red onion to 1/2 cup so that it wouldn’t be too powerful on the 2nd or 3rd day. Definitely better served chilled. This is the perfect way to squeeze more broccoli into my diet. I need to find new ways to use cashew cream cuz it’s so easy to make in the Nutribullet. Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome–thrilled you enjoyed it!
Holy florets Batman! Delicious! Amazing! Wow! I am primarily a raw vegan, so I used mostly raw ingredients. I also made my own “roasted almonds” by taking raw almonds, chopping them, mixing in a little sesame oil then adding salt and a little smoked paprika to lend the roasted, smokey flavor. I keep picking and picking and picking! Nothing is going to be left for dinner at this rate! Thank you very much!
Wow these modifications sounds amaaaze! Thanks so much for trying it out 🙂
Alexis ,
Thank you for this recipe! My husband who is a carnivore even liked it!! I’m trying to slowly introduce him to a more healthful diet and this is a great addition.
Chris
So happy to hear that! This is one of my favorite recipes 🙂
Made this for my family tonight, and my carnivorous father-in-law, my eight-year old son, and my wife all loved it. Great recipe. I rarely prepare a recipe and don’t have modifications to offer, but I don’t have any. Loved it just like this (we rocked the grapes).
So happy you made it and loved it! This is one of my favorite recipes 🙂
Made this salad on an average Saturday afternoon, What a GREAT raw salad, I didn’t have grapes so I added pineapple. Worked out great.
Sauce is spot on.
Thanks.
Oooo I bet the pineapple was such a cool flavor. So happy you enjoyed!
I normally don’t post my opinion on recipes because my results are usually less stellar than other posters. BUT this one waaaay exceeded my expectations of a salad I really like from our local grocer’s salad bar. I found myself licking the spatula digging all the dressing out of the blender. I made it for my lunch tomorrow but it may not last that long. Awesome job, Alexis!
Yayyy it’s the best!! Thanks so much, Lynn!
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Yes please sign up! Love hearing feedback 🙂 happy Sunday!
Alexis – Unfortunately I have to deal with nut allergies and was wondering if there was something else that I could use without ruining the salad. Thankyou.
Maybe this reply is way too late, but the old school Broccoli Salad was made with mayonaise, so if you can use that, just eliminate the nut ingredients. You can replace the almonds with sunflower seeds if that is acceptable. I’ve always loved that salad, before I discovered this vegan one. Try it!
The point of this salad is a more wholesome version using nuts for the same creamy effect as mayo—but using mayo here would defeat the purpose of it being a wholesome vegan version
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I just made this for my meal prep for the week and it’s amazing! The only change I did was I used roasted broccoli instead of raw broccoli (not a big fan of raw broccoli). Everything else was kept the same (which I rarely do because I feel like most recipes are under seasoned), and it turned out so delicious! This dish is so balanced, spiciness of the red onion, creaminess of the dressing, sweetness of the grapes, crunchiness of the broccoli and almonds..what a stellar recipe! I also topped mine with red pepper flakes and some Frank’s because that’s just how I roll 🙂
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, Tara! I’m the same way, always adjusting recipes. I’m thrilled you enjoyed this one as is. Hooray for hot sauce always!!
Thank you for this delicious recipe, I have been vegan since the new year. This recipe has a very similar taste as the deli kind. Still amazed how easy it is to be healthy without losing flavor and best of all feeling much better. Thanks again for sharing
This was delicious! Every one loved it! ❤️
I made this yesterday and it was amazing! I used dates instead of maple syrup, golden raisins, and I omitted garlic and onions. Super delish! And super easy.
Yay! Love your substitutions. Glad it worked out well!
I made this on Sunday it is delicious! thank you for sharing
This was FANTASTIC! I brought it to a potluck yesterday and it was the first salad that was gone. I would make this again and again and again!! Not too sweet, perfect amount of sauce. Yum!!!
Just made it! It really is a great recipe and will definitely be one I make often! After I tasted it per your recipe, I did add about half a squeezed lemon and also the red pepper flakes as someone else had mentioned. The lemon juice really perked it up! Thanks so much for sharing.😁
Love this additions! Sounds totally delish. Glad you enjoyed!
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Any replacement suggestions for maple syrup?
You could try honey or agave! I can’t guarantee the results since I haven’t tried it myself, but any sticky sweetener should do the trick. Best of luck!
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Thanks for this recipe! I was so happy to find a vegan broccoli salad – made it yesterday and will have leftovers for lunch today! It’s super yum 🙂
Made this to share with my omnivore extended family last Thanksgiving and it was a hit! Made it again for Easter to share with my husband’s omnivore family. It is soooo delicious. I had to add a little less than a tablespoon of water to thin the sauce, but that’s the only change I made. 🙂 Thank you for this wonderful recipe that both vegans and omnivores love!
I’m so glad you loved it!!
This is amazing!!!! I was worried there wasn’t enough dressing but once I tasted it I said out loud, “How can this be so good?” Thanks for a delicious recipe I will make time and time again!
Awwww I’m so so glad!!
Best broccoli salad! Glad I don’t have to avoid nuts. It is the dish I’m taking to my next vegan potluck. Outstanding!
Yum!!! Might make this for the 4th! Is it good to make the night before and keep in fridge?
Totally! Enjoy 🙂
Wasnt sure how the sauce would turn out, but it was fabulous. I did add a lil ginger to it to give it a some zing. All and all, loved this! I am always looking for new and delicious vegan recipes and this one is spot on. Thanks!
Delicious 😍 thank you for this amazing recipe ❤️
You’re so welcome!
Very nice, but the dressing seemed sparse. Next time I will double the amount of dressing.
Glad you liked it!
I loved this!! I made it for a girls weekend and everyone raved.
Thanks for such quality work and for all the amazing recipes shared.
Awwww yay I’m so glad thanks!