Healthier Broccoli Salad.

Happy Friday! I’m in hiberation mode over here due to bitter cold and snow, working from home for the past few days and staying warm with constant coffee and tea. Due to the weather I have completed two at-home workouts this week, but I’m hoping to get out to the gym during a break today for some treadmill time with the Half Mile Interval Treadmill Run. I’m not a zero temperature outdoor runner; 20 degrees is my limit! Icy and snowy sidewalks are another factor on my “do not run” list. Case in point, my plants finally have their wintry covering:

The recipe I’m sharing today is an easy, crunchy salad with a few of my favorite ingredients. I made this salad over the holidays for a family gathering. It comes together very quickly, and is a healthier version of broccoli salad usually made with loads of white sugar. The key is to add extra flavor by sauteing chopped onions and adding dried cranberries and raisins to the mix.

Broccoli has always been my favorite vegetable {weird, I know}. My mom loves telling stories about me snacking on raw broccoli straight from the garden as a small child. What can I say, I love the crunch!

 
Healthier Broccoli Salad
Serves a crowd {as a side dish}.

Ingredients~
1 head broccoli
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 yellow onion {chopped}
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup walnuts {roughly chopped}
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked black pepper
3/4 cup Miracle Whip {I used the olive oil version}
1/8 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

How to~
*Saute chopped yellow onion in olive oil on medium for ~15 minutes. While the onion is cooking, chop broccoli florets into small pieces.
*During the last few minutes sauteing the onion, add raisins and dried cranberries to soften.
*Add the chopped onion, cranberry, and raisin mix to the broccoli. Stir in sugar, salt and pepper, and chopped walnuts.
*Add Miracle Whip and white balsamic vinegar. Stir well.
*Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

{Adapted from All Recipes’ Fresh Broccoli Salad}