No more boring broccoli! This Broccoli Salad is dressed with a gorgeous Sour Cream Dressing that is tangy, creamy and made WITHOUT mayonnaise. Throw in nuttiness from almonds, freshness from shallots / scallions and a few bacon bits, and you have yourself a salad that is so good, it’s worth of a meal in itself!
This broccoli recipe is a lighter version of classic Broccoli Salad with a creamy dressing. Try this on the side of Baked Pork Chops, sticky Baked Chicken Thighs, marinated beef Steaks or crispy Pan Fried Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce!
Broccoli Salad
I’m keeping this post short and sweet because it’s an extra recipe, a side dish for these Oven Baked Pork Chops I also shared today. 🙂
When you think of creamy salad dressings, you automatically think of mayonnaise. Don’t get me wrong – I love my mayonnaise dressings. My friend’s mother’s Epic Potato Salad is simply the best I have ever had – EVER – and you could never go skinny on that mayonnaise dressing.
However, for everyday purposes, I try to avoid using too much mayonnaise in dressings.
So this Sour Cream Dressing is one of my “everyday” creamy dressing. Looks fab, no? 😉
I make all sorts of variations of this Broccoli Salad. This one I’m sharing today is a fairly classic version that I make often because I always have some sort of nuts in the pantry and I always have scallions (it’s my Asian genes). Though I must admit that bacon doesn’t make an appearance all the time! It’s a treat. 🙂
Even if you served this with just broccoli and the dressing, it’s a really lovely way to change up plain steamed broccoli on the dinner plate. 🙂 Here it is as a side to the Oven Baked Pork Chops I also shared today.
Key tip for making broccoli salads – drain the broccoli well! The heads of the broccoli are water catchers and the last thing you want is to take a bite of broccoli, expecting creamy dressing only to find you end up with a mouthful of watery dressing! So leave the broccoli in the colander to drain well, shaking occasionally to get it as dry as possible.
NO MORE BORING BROCCOLI! Who’s with me??! – Nagi x
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Broccoli Salad with Sour Cream Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 large or 2 small heads of broccoli
- 150 g / 5 oz lean bacon, chopped
- 1/4 cup flaked almonds, or other nuts of choice
- 2 shallots / scallions, or red onion, finely chopped
Sour Cream Dressing
- 1/3 cup sour cream (I use low fat)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder, or 1/2 small garlic clove, minced
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 2 – 3 tbsp milk, plus more to adjust consistency
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3/4 tsp white sugar
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Mix the Sour Cream Dressing ingredients together in a bowl. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. and set aside for 20 minutes for the flavours to develop. Use milk to adjust dressing to desired consistency.
- Break / cut broccoli into smallish florets. Blanch in boiling water or steam until just cooked – it should still be tender but crisp. Drain in a colander, run under tap water to help cool faster and leave to cool. Shake around in colander occasionally to loosen water caught in the floret heads (watery broccoli salad not nice!).
- Toast almonds in non stick skillet over medium high heat until golden. Remove into bowl.
- Cook bacon in skillet over high heat until golden. Drain on paper towels.
- Place salad ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle over dressing and toss to combine. Transfer to serving bowl.
- I served this with Oven Baked Pork Chops.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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Broccoli Salad with Sour Cream Dressing nutrition per serving.
Life of Dozer
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this dog eats everything!
Oh gosh, this looks delish but I really get broccoli doneness anxiety and neverrrr get it right. I always seem to take it too far, and have even managed a limp rawness texture– miraculous really. Any tips Nagi?
Hi Bil – that’s a skill! JUST JOKES!!! Plonk the broccoli in boiling water and count to 80 (i.e. 80 seconds). Drain and run under cold water. No way will it be overcooked!!!
You saved the day again Nagi! Thank you very much for generously sharing your expertise; you’re fast becoming my fave cooking blog x
Awww, thanks Bil! I’m flattered! N x
Really delicious!!
Thanks Evangeline!!!
Nagi, REALLY- Doser Eats Vegies ….! Goodone! My čast use to Eat just couple Of Vegies. As for your salad love IT. Have double Decker steamer for Vegies. Re:sourcream dressing, Nagi That’s Europian Way , we never Had Cream . Also YOU can mix sour Cream with yougurt and add Pinch Of smoke paprika. Thanking YOU with regards to YOU and yours Inc. Doser! Vera.
I didn’t know this was a European dressing! I must check it out!!
Hi Nagi! This salad is similar to one I make using raw broccoli, bacon, thinly sliced red onion and toasted pine nuts. The dressing IS made with mayo, a little sugar and balsamic vinegar. I think next time I make mine I will swap out at least half the mayo with sour cream!
I LOVE the sound of the dressing Dorothy! I second Mini’s request for the recipe!! I will make it and add it to the recipe 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi! You got it girl! I will send it to you tomorrow!
Dorothy,
Your dressing sounds yummy. Would you mind sharing the recipe?
Hi Mimi! Of course I will share, that’s what recipes are for! I will pass it on to Nagi and she will post it!