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    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Salads

    Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries

    December 11, 2018 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated July 27, 2020 6 Comments

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    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries Pinterest Pin

    My easy, make-ahead, low-carb wonder, Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries is a nutritious holiday side-dish favorite. This colorful salad is full of crisp broccoli and cauliflower, sweet/tart cranberries, and crunchy pistachios.  It’s equally at home on an elegant Christmas dinner table or at a covered dish neighborhood potluck.

    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries in a white serving dish on a red napkin

    12 Days of Easy Christmas Recipes:

    On the eleventh day of Christmas, instead of “eleven-pipers-piping,” I’m bringing you this delicious recipe for Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries as part of my special 12 Days of Easy Christmas Recipes!

    With festive colors of red and green, this nutritious powerhouse salad is quick and easy to prepare.  It also keeps well in the refrigerator for several days. Oh, and did I mention it’s also full of BACON! I thought that might get your attention!

    This simple recipe for Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries is delicious! Even better, eating it is a great way to add more veggies to your diet. And, the best part, this salad takes just minutes to prepare.

    What are cruciferous vegetables?

    Broccoli and Cauliflower are both cruciferous vegetables, and as such, they are some of the most nutritious foods you can add to your diet. According to WebMD, they have it all, vitamins, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals.

    If you are looking for other holiday side dishes, you might also want to check out these popular recipes: Baked Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes, Southern Style Baked Mac and Cheese, Southern Sweet Onion Casserole, and Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes. Need other ideas? Check out all of my side dish recipes.

    Broccoli Recipes:

    Broccoli is my favorite vegetable, and as you might imagine, I have lots of broccoli recipes on my blog. If you like broccoli as I do, you might want to check out these easy broccoli recipes: Ultimate Broccoli and Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers, Broccoli Cheddar Cornbread Muffins, Easy Mushroom, and Broccoli Frittata, Potato Broccoli Salad with Vinaigrette, and Easy Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

    How to make Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries:

    Gather the ingredients and add broccoli, cauliflower, cranberries, and pistachios to a large bowl. Set aside.

    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries ingredients in a large clear bowl.

    Combine the mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy.

    Mixing the ingredients for the dressing for Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries

    Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients, add the bacon and red onion and stir to combine. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries in a white serving bowl.

    Sharon’s Tips:

    • Not a fan of red onions, leave them out.
    • You can substitute toasted pecans or almonds for the pistachios in this recipe. 
    • Store this salad covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavor improves after a day, so it is an excellent dish to make-ahead. 
    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries in a white serving dish on a red napkin

    Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    My easy, make-ahead, low-carb wonder, Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries is a holiday side-dish favorite. This healthy salad is full of crisp broccoli and cauliflower, sweet/tart cranberries and crunchy pistachios, and it's equally at home on an elegant Christmas dinner table or at a covered dish neighborhood potluck.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 189 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad Ingredients:

    • 3 cups broccoli florets coarsely chopped into bite-size pieces (about 3 stalks)
    • 2 cups cauliflower coarsely chopped into bite-size pieces (about ½ head)
    • 1 cup dried cranberries I used Craisins)
    • ½ cup pistachios* coarsely chopped
    • 3 tablespoon red onion finely minced
    • 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled

    Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad Dressing Ingredients:

    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad Directions:

    • Add broccoli, cauliflower, cranberries, and pistachios to a large bowl. Set aside.

    Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad Dressing Directions:

    • Combine the mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy.
    • Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients, add the bacon and red onion and stir to combine. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    • Not a fan of red onions, leave them out.
    • You can substitute pecans or almonds for the pistachios in this recipe. 
    • Store this salad covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavor actually improves after a day so it is an excellent dish to make-ahead. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 382mgPotassium: 303mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 57.8mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.9mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    **The recipe for this salad was developed by Kathleen Royal Phillips of the Grits and Gouda blog, in 2010, while she was working in the test kitchen for Oxmoor House and Southern Living.

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    1. Kathleen Phillips

      December 22, 2019 at 8:54 am

      I would love to meet you! How funny is it that we chose similar blog names?! You have a lovely blog and so many yummy Southern recipes. Let’s make plans to schedule a time to meet in the new year and chat over some sweet tea cakes!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        December 23, 2019 at 12:08 pm

        That sounds awesome! I’ll be in touch after the first of the year.
        All my best and Merry Christmas!
        Sharon

        Reply
    2. Kathleen Phillips

      December 21, 2019 at 3:53 pm

      What a small “Southern” world! I actually developed this recipe when I was working in the Oxmoor House test kitchen! It is not in the Southern Living Annual cookbooks but rather the Christmas with Southern Living 2010 page 148. It’s a staple on our Christmas table every year. So glad yall love it!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        December 22, 2019 at 8:15 am

        Hi Kathleen, it was great to hear from you! I feel like we must be “blogosphere cousins” since our blog names are so similar! Thanks so much for writing and letting me know about your recipe. I have been making it for years and we almost always have it for Christmas dinner! I am also so jealous that you worked for Oxmoor House and Southern Living. I always dreamed of working there!
        I’ve added a note and a linked-to your blog in my post giving you credit for the recipe. I hope one of these days our paths might cross and we can chat. I would love to hear more about your days in the test kitchen.
        Merry Christmas to you and your family!
        All my best,
        Sharon

        Reply
    3. Bob

      November 21, 2019 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      My wife found this recipe in a Southern Living Christmas cookbook a few years ago and we love it. It’s always a hit with “first-timers. Found it here when looking for an easy way to send it to people who request it.

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        November 21, 2019 at 4:46 pm

        Hi Bob,
        A friend gave it to me and it’s always been one of my favorites. I’m not surprised to hear it originally came from Southern Living. I used to have all of their annual cookbooks.
        All my best,
        Sharon

        Reply

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have well over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and there is nothing I like better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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