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Home » Recipes » Gluten free

Your Signature Potluck Dish - Creamy Broccoli Salad

Published: Apr 17, 2013 · Modified: Dec 15, 2022 by Rose McAvoy · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

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Broccoli Salad is a staple at summer picnics. It has such great potential to be a healthy option but it often drowning in gloppy dressing. This lightened version allows broccoli to be the star. The dressing maintains that beloved creamy texture with a few playful surprises.

This is embarrassing to admit so please tell me I'm not the only one who does this - I excitedly accept an invitation to a party or potluck a few weeks away, make a note of the upcoming event on my calendar, and then file it away for later. The week of the potluck arrives and I have no dish planned, but, I don't fret because there are still a few days to think of something. The day of the potluck arrives and I spend the entire day void of good ideas and wishing I had planned my dish in advance.

If you can relate to my method (or lack thereof) I have a suggestion for both of us. Choose a signature dish. Once you have chosen a signature dish you will be less likely to find yourself paying for a bag of chips and a tub of salsa thirty minutes before a party (at least grab one of the refrigerated options!).

Suggestions for choosing a signature dish:

  1. Start with ingredients you are likely to have on hand at any given time.
  2. Pick fresh ingredients with year round availability.
  3. Look for a dish that will be great if made a day in advance or just a few minutes prior to serving.
  4. Imagine your dish fitting easily with a variety of entrées (grilled meat, fish, casseroles, etc).
  5. Consider appealing to a wide range of dietary needs and preferences.
  6. Most importantly - make your signature dish something that you enjoy, that fits your health goals, and could satisfy your hunger if the other food options do not meet the first two criteria.

A few weeks ago I found myself hours from a potluck dinner with no solid plan for what to make. Adding to my stress was the guest list - all the other diners were food blog writers. Ack! I knew the meal would be casual but I wanted to bring something I was proud to share with the talented group.

This salad came together less than an hour before I scrambled out the door. When I showed up to dinner with my bowl of Creamy Broccoli Salad I was very happy with my contribution. It fit right in with the hostess's main dish and complemented the other appetizers and side dishes. It fits the criteria quite nicely and I may have found my signature dish.

Here are some of the other goodies we enjoyed:

Artichoke and Goat Cheese Phyllo Appetizer - by Shut Up & Cook (cheesy briny goodness in a crisp papery envelope)

Persian Cucumber Bites with Lox & Dill Cream Cheese - by Everyday Maven (crunchy, salty, creamy, and gorgeous!)

Creamy Broccoli Salad with Honey mustard dressing

Rose McAvoy
Broccoli Salad is a staple at summer picnics. It has such great potential to be a healthy option but it often drowning in gloppy dressing. This lightened version allows broccoli to be the star. The dressing maintains that beloved creamy texture with a few playful surprises.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ lbs broccoli chopped into bite size pieces
  • ½ cup minced green onion approximately 3-4 whole onions
  • ½ cup raisins lightly packed
  • ¼ cup sunflower seed kernels toasted without salt

Dressing

  • ½ cup 4 oz non-fat Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon coarse ground mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions
 

  • In large salad bowl, toss together the broccoli salad ingredients.
  • Whisk together the dressing ingredients then fold into the salad until it is fully coated. Finish with additional orange zest.
  • Refrigerate the finished salad for 4 hours up to overnight.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacie

    July 28, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    I was at a restaurant this past weekend, and I had a very similar salad (hence why I am on the hunt!). It was absolutely delicious, I cannot wait to try this recipe!

    Reply
    • Rose

      July 29, 2013 at 3:00 pm

      Super! I hope you enjoy this as much as your inspiration salad.

      Reply
  2. atasteofmadess

    April 20, 2013 at 8:16 pm

    Yum! I need to make more salads, this looks great!

    Reply
  3. Sarah

    April 20, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    Oooh yum! I've never had a broccoli salad with honey mustard dressing before. It sounds delicious! I'm trying this soon.

    Reply
  4. Hannah

    April 18, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    Mmm, what a yummy salad, Rose! I'm sure it was a hit. I love broccoli salads and this one sounds creamy, crunchy, sweet and delicious.

    Reply
    • Rose

      April 19, 2013 at 11:06 am

      Thanks Hannah.

      Reply
  5. Roberta Williams

    April 17, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    I'm sure I will use this sometime soon.

    ________________________________

    Reply
  6. Kali Orkin

    April 17, 2013 at 9:14 am

    That is a great salad and much lighter that most mayo-bacon fat laced ones. Do you blanche your broccoli at all? I find it is easier for me to eat it that way.

    Reply
    • Rose

      April 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm

      I did not blanche the broccoli but you certainly could if that is better for you.

      Reply

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