Broccoli Salad with Almonds and Cranberries
Broccoli Salad with Almonds and Cranberries- all you need is 10 ingredients to make this mayo-free broccoli salad that’s bursting with textures and flavors! (vegan + gluten-free)
Mayo haters rejoice! I’ve got a broccoli salad for you that is crazy delicious without the need for any dairy at all.
Instead of the typical heavy, mayonnaise-based dressing, this salad offers a more nutritious option by using creamy, heart-healthy avocado. Blended with fresh lemon juice and garlic, it makes for a smooth dressing that allows the flavor of the broccoli to shine through.
This recipe comes from America’s Test Kitchen’s latest cookbook, Nutritious Delicious which features 130 classic recipes that have been reengineered to be as nutrient-dense as possible. We’re talking superfoods galore worked into everyday favorites from pizza and tacos to waffles and cookies.
As soon as I laid eyes on this book, I knew you guys would love it. So in addition to sharing the recipe for this incredible broccoli salad, the publisher is also giving y’all a chance to win a copy of your own. How awesome is that?
I have to give credit to the ATK team for coming up with the brilliant idea to use avocado in place of mayo. Not only was that genius, but I loved the suggestion to chop up the broccoli stem and add it to the salad as well. Such a great way to prevent food waste.
I’m telling ya, this book is full of gems!
If you’d like a chance to win a copy, please leave a comment below telling me what your favorite superfood is.
I’ll pick two winners one week from today and contact you via email. Good luck!
Broccoli Salad with Almonds and Cranberries
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 pounds broccoli*
- 1 avocado, pitted and halved
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest + 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon (optional)
Directions:
Fill a large bowl halfway with ice and water then set aside. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 1-inch water to a boil. Place the broccoli in a steamer basket and place over saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until broccoli is bright green, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Drain well and transfer to the bowl with ice water to cool for about 10 minutes. Drain again then transfer to a salad spinner and spin dry (or lay on a towel to dry).
In a blender or food processor (I used a NutriBullet) combine avocado, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, and 3/4 teaspoon salt + 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Add broccoli to a large serving bowl then add the avocado dressing, cranberries, almonds, shallot and tarragon. Toss to combine then season with salt & pepper, to taste. Serve immediately and enjoy!
*Chop florets into 1-inch pieces then peel the stalk, halve it lengthwise and slice into 1/4-inch pieces
I wasn’t able to find fresh tarragon so I made it without. The salad is best served fresh as the avocado will cause it to brown if served the next day. You can prep the broccoli in advance and add everything else to the bowl, minus the dressing. Then when you are ready to serve, make the avocado dressing and toss to combine.
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback!
i love berries…all the time…everyday…and they’re so versatile..in breakfasts..salads..meat marinations and obviously desserts
I’ve been on a blueberry and raspberry kick lately! I am a huge broccoli and sweet potato fan too!
How awesome! ATK has been hitting it out of the park of late (well, always). I’m a fan of whatever superfood is in season at the time- so for now, it’s the kale growing into little trees in my garden. Thanks for sharing the recipe and this giveaway!
I adore broccoli salad and how ATK used avocado for that creamy yum! What a delicious salad! ATK is churning out the books right now and I’d love to get my hands on this one! Delicious share, Sarah!
I love using chia seeds! Especially in chia pudding, energy balls and overnight oats!
I love broccoli salad this is such a great alternative to the one with mayo. great choice of ingredients. I use tarragon vinegar, instead of lemon juice and it really adds a great favor to this yummy salad.
This looks AMAZING!! A must-try for tonight! My favorite superfood, by far, is cacao. I put it in almost everything!
I think I have to go with the tried and true superfood – dark leafy greens. Especially loving collards right now.
Berries! All the way. I eat them daily whether it be in a smoothie, topping my Kodiak cakes like I had this morning or just as a snack with a little almond butter. A definite fav! -Kaitlyn | http://www.poweredbysass.com
My favorite superfood is kale!
My favourite has to be açai!
This looks so good! I love the added crunch of the almonds too. My favorite superfood is probably bananas. So many things you can do with them!
My favorite superfood is broccoli! I literally eat a bowl of steamed broccoli everyday, so I’m excited to try this!!!!
Favorite superfood? Quinoa! You can make so many things with it and it has tons of protein –
Over the past few years I have been trying many super foods. I typically make green smoothies with Chia and Hemp Seeds. I finally got my husband on board (big win!) and he adds cacao powder in addition to the seeds. It is an ongoing process for us in this healthy lifestyle journey. I never would have thought I’d find going to my local produce stand exciting!
My favorite superfoods are kale, raspberries, blueberries and quinoa!
Avocado and quinoa are two of my favorites
My favorite superfoods are brussel sprouts, kale, and berries – oh and avocados of course! Excited to try this recipe.
I’m totally down for this recipe because I hate mayo and I make broccoli salad/slaw almost weekly! I’ve never used an avocado based dressing so I need to try this next time! Very pretty photos too Sarah!
I LOVE chia seeds to add more fiber to every meal ++ especially in my overnight oats! Excited to try out this recipe!! It’s got a whole bunch of my favorite things!
I love love love broccoli- especially the stems!! And avocado dressing…..genius! This recipe sounds divine!
My favorite superfood has to be Cauliflower. It is so versatile to work with in a variety of ways, from rice to steaks to roasted florets!
That’s a hard question– there’s too many! Hemp seeds are a go to though, so easy to use. Thank you for the recipe and giveaway.
Berries and chia! Preferably together to make a 2-ingredient fridge jam to top high-fiber crackers or yogurt!
Berries are wonderful, and blueberries are the best IMHO. I have some as part of my breakfast most mornings.
I love black beans and sweet potatoes! Both are versatile and affordable! Kale and broccoli too :)
Wolfberries!! Great for that 3pm slump during the work day. Thanks for sharing the recipe! My husband and I are working really hard to switch to a vegan lifestyle and this book would help us along greatly!!
I’ve been eyeing this book wondering if it was something I’d like!! I absolutely love ATK. My favorite super food would have to be dark leafy greens especially kale! I just really love kale salads. This broccoli dish looks so good, too.
Hands down it has to be avocados. I love anything with avocado in it. My newest obsession is avocado toast. I will definitely try this recipe for the broccoli salad.
I love acai
I love avocados in salads or in a smoothie.
I am loving my homegrown Wheatgrass right now! Also, really love and appreciate reading EVERYONE’S favorites too! Nourishing just to read! Thank you for facilitating this sharing of “food love”; ie., food that loves us!
I am sooo loving my homegrown Wheatgrass right now!
Goodness, that looks so pretty and delicious. I love that you added shallot it! Hmm, thats a hard one but my favorite superfood would have to be avocado! It’s so versatile and wonderful!
At the moment I’m addicted to Kale and Sweet Potato! Both so versatile and can be included in anything.
Love them all! Can’t pick just one as our “go-to” fav! Spinach! Legumes!! Sweet Potato!!! Guava!!!! Berries!!!!!
Thank You for this web site, we always look forward to the new post and sharing with our family!!
My favorite superfood are goji berries.
My favorite has to be either spirulina (wow, it’s amazing) or kale. The greener the better for me. I think this book would be a HUGE help to my mom who has to make some huge diet changes… would love to gift it to her actually. So if I win, I’m shipping it to Mom. Thank you!!
Love that this salad is mayo free! I love wild blueberries and flax seeds as part of my daily routine.
I’m currently loving nutritional yeast! It adds such a great rich and cheesy flavor to everything.
I’m not sure I can choose just one. I like kale, spinach,ginger, pineapple smoothies. I love quinoa, black bean bowls with avocado… Blueberries …broccoli….I rotate between most of them ….
I’m excited to try this recipe. I have everything on hand.
I absolutely love tarragon – especially in strawberry lemonade- although I also love basil in it as well.
Thank you for sharing
!
Definitely cacao, because I can’t live a day without chocolate!
Kale is my jam all day everyday!
I just can’t pick one…variety is the key to life!
Though I am currently indulging in the plentiful availability of avocados. So this dish fits right in.
I am totally one of those mayo-haters so this salad is definitely for me! My favorite super food is definitely avocados!
I put hemp seeds in and on everything! They really make a nice addition to just about all foods.
not sure what qualifies as a “superfood” these days but since i have seen other reply berries and i love my berries i’m going to say that.
I saw this at work and just came home to make it. It’s SO good!! I typically don’t mind the mayo aspect of the broccoli salad but this was just on another level, and it’s such a genius idea! So delicious, I’m so glad I tried it out
My fav superfoods currently are broccoli, quinoa, avocado, and blueberries!
My favorite superfood is blueberries. I cannot get enough of them!
So many superfoods! But cacao and avocado have to top my list. Yum!
Kale and avocado will always be my favorite superfoods!
My favorite is Sweet Potatoes!
What a good looking salad; I actually prefer the broccoli stalks to the florets in taste. My current favorite superfood (category) are the Trader Joe’s organic frozen raspberries and blueberries; best price in town!
Oh goodness, broccoli AND avocado?! Say no more. It’s mine. Speaking of… my favorite super food is definitely avocado. I eat it every. single. day. No shame
WOW! You had me at the broccoli salad, you enticed me with the cover photo of that cookbook (drooling!) and you kept me with the potential of a giveaway! I’ve got to say that while I view any food that fuels me and makes me feel strong and energetic is a superfood, my heart goes out to kale. In smoothies, sauté and chip form, kale always lifts me up!
Broccoli and kale top my list for favorite superfoods, but fresh berries in the summer are also a hit!
Chia seeds! I love putting them in cookies and making jam with them.
Hi Sarah,
I can’t wait to try this salad! My favorite super food are blueberries – maybe my all time favorite foods.
Thanks for sharing a great recipe.
Flaxseeds, mainly because they are a life saver now that i realize i can’t eat eggs!!!
The other…coconut? Is that a superfood? I say it is…..LOL
Such a great idea to use avocado instead of mayo! Mayo has always grossed me out.
Oooh I enjoy a lot of superfoods… I love throwing hemp hearts & chia seeds into smoothies often, and I’ve been using a superfoods greens supplement in my chocolate mint smoothies that adds some veggie power & tastes yummy!
I love broccoli! I’m fighting diabetes right now so I’m trying my best to eat healthy. I find inspiration by reading and investigating new food combinations. Thank you!
I can’t go a day without having dark leafy greens – kale and spinach are a staple in my fridge!
It’s hard to pick! I love them all. I guess maybe cherries, because they’re my favorite smoothie ingredient, and they’re like candy on their own. Also, I’m excited to make this recipe for my husband. He likes the traditional broccoli salad, so it’ll be nice to try a healthier version!
Can’t wait to try this recipe—I’m excited you were able to share it. My favorite superfoods (that I can afford to eat often—berries and avocados are great but expensive!) are probably collards, red beans, sweet potatoes, and EGGS.
LOVE kale with my eggs in the morning! Can’t wait to try this recipe
This recipe looks amazing! I LOVE avocados .
I have so many but I always make sure i’m stocked up on kale!
Chia seeds and sweet potatoes!
My favorite superfood is sweet potatoes and black beans. Delicious together, too.
I love avocados! This looks delicious.
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! Im having it for lunch as we speak. I wanted to thank you for your blog. I make your recipes all the time and love them!
Aw thank you for taking the time to write this, Rachel! It means so much. I’m grateful to have you as a reader. :)
That salad looks great! A nice change for broccoli salads. Superfoods? I love sweet potatoes, but don’t fix them often because my husband doesn’t like them. I use chia, hemp seeds and flax in my smoothies every day, along with avocados and berries. Recently found your website, so will be checking it more often. Thank you for your healthy recipes!
Thanks Sue! Your smoothie sounds like a great way to start the day! :)
I love broccoli with lemon and do not like mayo. This is the perfect salad for me. I might grill the lemons and use their juice after grilling because I think they are much better that way. And maybe include some of the lemon zest. Haven’t made it yet, but will soon!
That sounds like a great idea! Hope you enjoy it, Diana!
Broccoli salad is my favorite, but the mayo has gotten to be too much for me☹️. Subbing Avocados is genius. As I’m from two cherry states (Michigan and Washington) I’ll add another favorite of mine — cherries, either fresh or dried — and leave out the cranberries . Thank you for this❤️
That’s a great idea! I hope you enjoy it, Janice! :)
I love this salad! My favorite super foods are quinoa, blackberries and spinach.