Strawberry Broccoli Salad Recipe

With just five ingredients, you can make a scrumptious salad full of crisp broccoli, sweet apples, tangy strawberries, creamy cheese cubes, and crunchy almonds. Then, top your strawberry broccoli salad with my homemade poppy seed lemon dressing for a delicious lunch. Creamy, crunchy, sweet, and refreshing, this salad is perfect for summer picnics and parties.

I have had broccoli salads before, but this broccoli strawberry salad is the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors for a delicious ready-to-serve meal in minutes. Strawberries and broccoli just seem to go well together and make a great salad with a lemony poppy seed dressing. 

In just a few minutes, you can have this flavorful salad ready to serve. It took me some time to figure out which veggies and fruits go best for this salad. I tried several combinations, like cauliflower instead of broccoli and apples without the strawberries. But after various choices, my family decided that the way the apples and strawberries balanced out the fresh taste of the broccoli was just right.

If you enjoyed this strawberry salad, you would love my Broccoli Pomegranate Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing with pine nuts and dried cranberries.Another way to enjoy your veggies is with this cucumber tomato avocado salad or this easy grilled vegetables recipe with baby potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, and asparagus.

Why you will love this recipe

• The kids like it: If you have had trouble getting your kids to eat vegetables and fruits, mixing them with chunks of cheese and sweet dressing makes this salad irresistible.
• Very versatile: If you would rather have a more savory salad, leave out the apples and add some cauliflower or zucchini. You could change the cheese to something you like better or add something else completely.
• Easy to make: This recipe requires only a handful of ingredients and requires little preparation.
• You can make it fast: It is easy and fast, so you can have it ready to serve in less than 20 minutes.

What you’ll need to make strawberry broccoli salad:

Special items:

• Bowls – Just a couple of bowls for making the salad and the dressing.
• Salad tongs – Tongs are perfect for tossing salad quickly and efficiently.

Salad ingredients:

• Broccoli—I use fresh broccoli florets that I chop from a fresh head of broccoli. I always get organic broccoli because I know it has no pesticides. I also buy from a local farmers’ market instead of a grocery store as often as possible.
• Apples – For this, I prefer the sweet and tangy taste of Granny Smith apples because they add a tartness to the salad, and they are crisp and firm enough to be eaten with dressing without getting soggy.
• Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are best for this dish because you are eating them raw, so you want the best flavor. Although frozen strawberries would work (thawed), they would not have the same taste and texture.
• Cheese—Colby Jack is one of my favorite cheeses in salads because it is mild and creamy and has a great flavor that goes with everything. I get fresh blocks of cheese from the deli and chop them into chunks myself when I am ready to use them.
• Almonds—Toasted slivered almonds are light and crunchy, adding a nice nutty flavor. I like to toast my own, but you can get them toasted and slivered.

For the dressing:

• Lemon juice—Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a tangy bite to your salad dressing and prevents the fruit from turning brown.
• Mayo – I use my mayo, but you can use your favorite. Sometimes, I use Miracle Whip when I want my salad dressing to be a little sweeter.
• Sugar—Granulated white sugar gives this dressing the perfect sweetness for my taste. However, you can use honey or maple syrup if you do not want to use sugar.
• Vinegar – White vinegar is what I use because it has the zing to make this salad especially tangy.
• Poppy seeds – These are so good for you and add a bit of crunch to your dressing.

How to make strawberry broccoli salad?

1. Prep the apples: First, peel and chop the apples into 1/2-inch cubes.
2. Mix it up: Then, combine broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, and apple cubes in a large salad bowl.
3. Make the poppy seed dressing: Next, add sugar, poppy seeds, vinegar, lemon juice, and mayonnaise in a separate bowl and whisk thoroughly.
4. Toss the salad: After, pour the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss to coat well.
5. Add the strawberries: Now, gently stir in the strawberry pieces making sure they are not damaged.
6. Time to eat: Finally, sprinkle on the almonds and serve immediately.

Expert tip

How to choose the best broccoli

When preparing a raw salad, you must ensure the vegetables and fruits are as close to perfect as possible. That includes your broccoli. Choosing the best broccoli may seem simple, but there are some things you need to know before you head to the farmers’ market or grocery store. You must check the color, shape, stems, leaves, and cut ends.

There are two types. Stem broccoli has a thick stalk with small florets, and a head of broccoli has groups of florets on a large thick stalk. High-quality broccoli should be bright or dark green to even purplish color. Do not buy any broccoli that is yellow, brown, or has limp, soggy leaves. The buds should be compact, tightly formed, and very firm when you touch them.

Try to avoid enlarged or open flowerets or wilted areas. Open and enlarged broccoli florets or those with yellow flowers are older and may be closer to spoiling. They often have a bitter taste as well. The stems should be firm and rigid but not woody. If it has leaves, they should be vibrant green without any brown spots. The cut end should be moist and fresh-looking.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Add meat: For a heartier salad, add meat like chopped chicken, ham, or turkey. You could also add bacon.
• More veggies: It’s a salad, so add as many veggies as you like. I like to add julienned carrots, cherry tomatoes, sliced onions, and cucumber rounds. Cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers, and radishes would also be delicious.
• More fruit: Similarly, adding more fruit is also a great idea. Try chopped pears, peaches, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, papaya, and kiwi.
• Try a different dressing, like homemade ranch dressing, thousand island, honey mustard, or blue cheese dressing.
• Other cheese: If you would rather have a different cheese like cheddar or mozzarella, those would be great. You may also like shredded parmesan or crumbled feta in this salad.
• Spicy salad: Spicy food lovers would enjoy some chiles and red pepper flakes added in.
• Sunflower seeds: Add a handful of sunflower seeds for even more crunch.
• Crunchy: Add walnuts or pecans for some crunchiness.

Serving suggestions:

Salads go great with everything. This one will pair well with a meal or on its own.

• Serve it with another summery and refreshing main meal like this pineapple grilled chicken.
• This salad is perfect for a potluck or backyard barbecue, and it pairs well with turkey burgers, and shrimp rolls.
• This would be perfectly served on top of a bed of fresh lettuce or kale.
• Add it to individual cups and serve it as a party appetizer.

Frequently asked questions

What herbs go well with strawberries?

Even if you are eating a bowl of strawberries without all of the other salad ingredients, you can enhance your dish with herbs and spices. Ginger adds a spicy sweetness for a bit of a bite. Basil and lavender add depth to the flavors for a unique taste. If your strawberries are not as sweet as you like, try a dash of black pepper to bring out the sweetness. Mint is another way to expand the flavor profile.

Why do you blanch broccoli for salad?

Although this recipe does not call for it, I sometimes blanch my broccoli when adding it to a salad. It helps remove any bitterness that can be tasted when the veggie is not as fresh as usual. Blanching is also a nice way to make your salad more attractive. Bright green broccoli looks better than pale green. In addition, blanching kills any bacteria and improves the texture while adding moistness.

When are strawberries in season?

Believe it or not, strawberries can be grown all year round now because of the many different varieties. That means you can enjoy fresh strawberries in your recipes any time of the year. The typical strawberry strain is considered a spring crop, but nowadays, this delicious fruit can be grown all summer and even into the fall. Depending on the variety, you can even get fresh strawberries in winter.

How do you make raw broccoli taste better?

I enjoy the flavor of raw broccoli as long as it is ripe and fresh. Any kind of fresh broccoli should taste sort of grassy but not bitter. If your broccoli is bitter, it is probably past its prime. But you can still eat it. Add some salt and pepper to enhance the flavor or some lemon juice to neutralize bitterness. A touch of olive oil and garlic will really boost the flavor and make it taste incredible.

Do I need to chill my salad before serving?

Although you do not have to chill it, this strawberry broccoli salad does taste better chilled. A room-temperature salad just does not seem as crisp and refreshing. Letting it sit in the fridge after pouring on the poppy seed dressing also allows the fruit and vegetables to absorb the flavors.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: This salad will stay fresh for several days in the fridge in a sealed container. You could also store it in a heavy-duty freezer bag.   
• Freezing: I would not recommend freezing because the strawberries will get soggy. 

More salad recipes to try:

Recipe tips:

• Try chopping all your ingredients about the same size for better uniformity. That way, you get a bit of each flavor in every bite.
• Pre-made salad dressing can shorten preparation time. You can also make this dressing and store it in a jar in the fridge until ready to use.
• If you plan to use frozen broccoli and strawberries, let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
• Keep salad fresh longer. Do not add the dressing until you are ready to eat it.
• This is a vegetarian dish, but you could make it vegan by using vegan mayonnaise.