Pear Apple Broccoli Salad
My new favorite summer salad to make is a pear-apple chicken salad and I have it at least once a week. There is something special about the combination of sweet, fresh fruit in a savory salad mixed with some blue cheese and an apple vinaigrette. That is the salad which inspired this broccoli salad.
The flavors go wonderfully with fresh, crispy broccoli and the best part is it lasts much longer than a lettuce based salad and portable. It’s easy to take a broccoli salad to picnics and summer barbecue parties. That’s why I often make my cucumber broccoli salad, apple walnut broccoli salad, or this sweet and tangy one. It’s always a hit at every summer party.
Ingredient Substitutions and Tips
Broccoli – you can use 2 bunches of broccoli, or about 20 oz of broccoli florets but do not use frozen broccoli.
Nuts – this salad is amazing with candied pecans but you can substitute regular pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts. Make sure to chop or crush them.
Blue cheese crumbles – if you need to substitute, try it with gorgonzola for a similar sharp flavor. For milder flavor, you can use feta cheese.
Shallot – shallot is actually in a garlic family but acts as an onion. You can substitute Vidalia onion but don’t use a whole one since they are quite big.
How To Make Pear Apple Broccoli Salad
The best news is that there is NO cooking involved and all you have to do is chop some fruit and veggies.
- Chop broccoli, apple, pear, shallot, and nuts.
- Combine everything in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the apple vinaigrette and gently fold to mix.
- I recommend refrigerating for a couple of hours before serving.
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Pear Apple Broccoli Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 broccoli bunches about 20 oz. florets
- 1 large sweet apple
- 1 pear
- 1 cup candied pecans plain pecan can be substituted
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 1 shallot
- 3/4 cup apple vinaigrette
- Dash of salt
Instructions
- Cut off broccoli florets and chop them into smaller pieces. Add broccoli to a mixing bowl.
- Slice shallot thinly and add it to the broccoli.
- Peel, core, and dice apple and pear. Add it to the broccoli as well.
- Chop pecan and add it to the bowl with other veggies and fruit.
- Add blue cheese crumbles to the bowl. Mix everything gently and add a little salt.
- Add apple vinaigrette and fold gently until all evenly combined.
- I highly recommend to refrigerate the broccoli salad for a couple of hours before serving. Cover the bowl air-tight and refrigerate for a 2-4 hours before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
More Summer Side Dishes To Try
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
I needed a recipe to use raw broccoli in Will try
This salad look and sound health. I needed a recipe I could raw broccoli in. Will try.
I really need to eat healthier so i should try this
Wow, what an amazingly tasty salad recipe. Such salads must be included in our daily diet. I am a health blogger and I just loved it.
I’m so happy you like it! Thank you 🙂