Today I’m sharing an old school recipe for Classic Broccoli Salad. This salad is a staple here at our house, especially when the weather starts to get warm. We make it to go with BBQ, grilled chicken and almost any dinner that calls for a cool and creamy side dish.
My Grandmother and my Great Aunt made this recipe for just about every holiday. Every time I make it, I think of them and how hard they worked to make just about every meal we had with them special. I am pretty sure I did not respect their work as a child. But, now that I have my own family and I know how I love showing my love for them when I prepare meals, I truly appreciate them. And I miss them.
Making this recipe always makes me feel a bit closer to them and therefore there’s a nostalgia in chopping up the broccoli and onions. There’s nostalgia in whisking up the dressing. And then tasting the creamy crunchy goodness is the WOW that takes me right back to their dining room tables. Isn’t it great that food can do that? In the broad scope of life there are many things that spark our memories. For me, food is one of the great memory revivers.
It’s amazing to me that a simple salad like this Classic Broccoli Salad can bring me such joy. It also helps that my hubby loves this salad.
This salad is the perfect side dish for a potluck, a picnic or your next backyard grill out. I’m pretty happy with this simple, traditional recipe, but you can use your imagination and add in things like chicken or bacon. Some people add grapes or dried fruit, too. However, you choose to serve this salad, I bet it will be a hit!
Classic Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heads of broccoli approx 4-5 cups, chopped
- ½ medium red onion diced
- 1-1 ½ cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and red wine vinegar until well combined. Add salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl combine broccoli, diced red onion and shredded cheese.
- Pour mayonnaise mixture over the broccoli and fold until everything is coated.
- Chill for an hour before serving.
