Vegan Broccoli Salad – High in Protein, Low in Carbs, Ready in 12 mins
- Updated on Jul 12, 2023
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It’s a real surprise that in over two and a half years we’ve never been asked for a broccoli salad recipe. Well, even though you didn’t ask, here it is!
Broccoli is just too awesome to deny it any longer. Firstly it’s a nutritional powerhouse with many proven health benefits, and secondly, as veggies go it’s relatively high in proteins (2.8g/100g).
For that reason our vegan broccoli salad suddenly becomes attractive to any vegetarian (or vegan) who doesn’t want to skip the chance of grabbing a few more grams of proteins when they eat their veggies (me, for example).
I mean we all want to make our gym efforts count, don’t we?!
My after workout “snack” often consists of this broccoli salad with brown rice (or one of these yummy vegetarian post workout recipes!). It’s a really tasty way of restoring energy levels.
You can also prep the salad as a side to your regular lunch or dinner to make sure you get in enough veg for the day (aim for at least 5 servings of veg/fruit a day).
For some unknown and inexplicable reason, broccoli has a bad rep with children. Which is weird when you think about it, as broccoli are basically just little trees.
And we’re pretty sure kids love trees. Maybe this is because we’re normally just way too uninspired to make broccoli fun.
Yep, you read that right – I just used “broccoli” and “fun” in the same sentence. As this recipe is here to prove to you.
A few verbivores out there might rail and rally at us for claiming this is a salad even though the broccoli is fried/sauteed for a few minutes.
We’ve checked and the Oxford Dictionary states that a salad can consist of cooked veggies too. Therefore I’m right. Ha!
Apart from that, raw broccoli is hardly fun to eat anyway (I challenge you to show me a good raw broccoli salad recipe).
Health Benefits – Vegan Broccoli Salad
Guys, forget goji berries, acai berries and all that stuff. Broccoli is the real powerhouse!
One cup contains way more than 100% of your daily vitamin C and K needs, plus a whole host of other essential nutrients (1). That’s amazing!!
Also, due to its floret of nutrients (get it?) broccoli is considered to be anti-inflammatory, detox supporting and cancer preventing (2).
All in all, broccoli is a really cool veg that’s worth including in your diet regularly. There’s a reason your mother always told you to eat your greens.
Get a tasty broccoli salad recipe under your belt and you’ll be good to go. Maybe start with this one 😉
More Broccoli Recipe Ideas
If you don’t mind cheese and love crispy, salty broccoli, then please try out this parmesan roasted broccoli recipe! It’s wonderful! Just make sure to find rennet free parmesan or use a similar veggie friendly cheese.
Need a complete and comforting dish? Try our cheesy broccoli casserole. We also have a vegan version, check it out here!
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli (roughly one bunch)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (different oil is also fine)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp peanuts
- 2 spring onions (sliced)
- 2-3 tbsp water
- Salt to taste
For the sauce
- ⅕ cup water
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (dark)
- 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar (lemon juice is also fine)
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli into small florets, then wash and rinse these fellas.
- Get a pan to medium/high heat. Pour in water, one finger thick. And in the broccoli goes. Lid on top. Cook for about three minutes.
- Whisk together the corn starch with a little bit of cold water. Slice up the green onions and peanuts
- Set the broccoli aside. Again pour in water into the pan, let it get hot. Add in soy sauce, olive oil, sweet chili sauce and vinegar. Finally pour in the corn starch. Mix well.
- Now throw back in the broccoli. Add sesame seeds, peanuts and green onions. Stir gently for another 30 seconds.
- Add salt to taste. Maybe some more vinegar.
- Done! Indulge immediately or when cold.
NOTES
Nutrition
Comments
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27 comments
I want to try this recipe, but I have one question: for the sauce, do I use the water I cook the broccoli in?
Very good question, Astaff. No, you can’t use the cooking water. Corn starch only mixes with cold water 🙂
I just made this! Delicious! I added tofu with the broccoli when I was adding the broccoli to the sauce just to make it more of a meal. I also added a few shakes of sesame oil to the sauce because I love it. Enjoy!
Tofu is a great idea in this one. Lots of extra protein as well :). I bet the sesame sauce was great. Thanks for writing!
Just tried this broccoli recipe. Loved it and will be making it again. Thank you!!
Woop, yay! Glad you enjoyed it, Isabel!
Delicious and this sauce works on so many veggies, it’s delicious on bok choy!
I just had this as well! Thanks for reminding me of some recipes I hadn’t had for a while, Veronica :). It’s awesome you’re trying so many of our recipes!
Thank YOU for having such an awesome website. We have come to trust your recipes and lots of them are on our meal plans lately. This week we’re having your sweet potato burritos again, at hubby’s request! We are big fans! Lots of love from BC, Canada!
So good to hear! And we really appreciate hearing that people enjoy and use our recipes – especially in meal plans! So cool! Same from Hamburg and Berlin 🙂
Great simple idea for a warm salad! I love how simple it is too 🙂
and challenge accepted, here is my recipe:
Raw Vegan Broccoli Salad (oil free)
Chopped Broccoli, apple, and dried cranberry (slivered almonds or other seeds optional)
For the Sauce:
Tahini, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), garlic, paprika, and black pepper
optional: Nutritional Yeast
and a little water to help get the tahini moving 😉
Boom! creamy, tangy, crunchy, salty and sweet >.<
and yes, letting it sit for an hour or so will help the vinegar or lemon juice break down the cell walls in the broccoli. personally, I like the crunchy raw broccoli, but we are all a little different 😉
Can this Vegan Broccoli Salad be served room temp? I’m bringing it to someone else’s house.
Yes, definitely! It tastes great both warm or cold!