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The Best Vegan Broccoli Salad

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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.

The best vegan and gluten-free broccoli salad...sweet, creamy, tangy, crunchy--perfect for potlucks and cookouts!

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.

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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.

The best vegan and gluten-free broccoli salad...sweet, creamy, tangy, crunchy--perfect for potlucks and cookouts!

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!

The best vegan and gluten-free broccoli salad...sweet, creamy, tangy, crunchy--perfect for potlucks and cookouts!

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.

Lovin’ the ideas of more veggies in your diet? Check out my other recipes that are enriched in broccoli goodness:

Now, allow me to introduce you to the best vegan broccoli salad ever.

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The best vegan and gluten-free broccoli salad...sweet, creamy, tangy, crunchy--perfect for potlucks and cookouts!

The Best Vegan Broccoli Salad

★★★★★ 4.9 from 26 reviews
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
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Description

The creamiest, most delicious vegan broccoli salad with grapes, onion, almonds, and cranberries–the perfect potluck dish! You’d never guess it was completely vegan and gluten-free.

Scale

Ingredients

For the dressing:

  • 3/4 cup raw cashews, soaked
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp mined garlic
  • heaping 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the salad:

  • 2 large broccoli crowns (florets only), finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups red grapes, halved
  • 1/3 cup roasted salted almonds, finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries or raisins

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. Drain cashews. Add to blender with with rest of the dressing ingredients. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
  3. 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.
  4. Serve chilled.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 255
  • Sugar: 19g
  • Sodium: 228mg
  • Fat: 13g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 31g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
The best vegan and gluten-free broccoli salad...sweet, creamy, tangy, crunchy--perfect for potlucks and cookouts!

Comments

  4. 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!

    Reply

    • 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.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  13. 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!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  14. 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!

    ★★★★★

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  15. 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

    Reply

  16. 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).

    ★★★★★

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  17. 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.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  18. 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!

    Reply

      • 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.

        ★★★★★

        Reply

        • 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!

          ★★★★★

          Reply

          • 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

  21. 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 :)

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  22. 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

    Reply

  24. 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.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  26. 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!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  27. 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.?

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  30. Hey! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your
    site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my iphone.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plutin thwt might be able to
    correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  31. 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 :)

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  32. 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!

    Reply

  33. 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!

    Reply

  34. Best broccoli salad! Glad I don’t have to avoid nuts. It is the dish I’m taking to my next vegan potluck. Outstanding!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  36. 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!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  39. My husband loved this salad so much he asked if we could have it again this week! I didn’t add the grapes and substituted sunflower seeds instead of the almonds. It was slightly sweet and very delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  41. This salad is the BOMB!!!! Very, very good!!!! My omnivore husband loved it!!! Thank you very much!!!!

    I’m trying to give this recipe 5 stars but it isn’t working. So I’m not giving it any stars.

    Reply

  42. This was so easy and delicious! My boyfriend and I finished it in one sitting. Thank you so much for the recipe! I’ll definitely be making it again.

    Reply

  47. I was asked to bring a broccoli salad to a family gathering, but I didn’t have a recipe! Luckily, I found yours. It became an instant family favorite.
    Today, I added cooked farro to the mix, and boy, it was good.

    Thanks for sharing your recipe. It’s a keeper.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Trackbacks

  12. […] The Best Vegan Broccoli Salad Ingredients: For the dressing: 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 For the salad: 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 (Find the full recipe and directions here at Hummusapien) […]

    Reply

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