After consuming all of the chips and salsa in Austin, Texas, the unfortunate state of my midsection practically dictated that I be more kind to myself. So, I took a week off from drinking and dragged myself back to yoga. I’ve also been eating at home and filling up on lots of fresh vegetables. I’m feeling more balanced by the day.

I’ve never put much stock in detox diets or cleansing juice fasts, but I found myself googling “detoxifying foods” the other day. I patted myself on the back when I saw the list: greens, alliums (onions and garlic), citrus, olive oil, cruciferous vegetables (hey broccoli), beets, whole grains, etc. It was like skimming a list of all my favorite ingredients! Whole foods really are the best medicine.

This broccoli salad recipe contains quite a few of those detoxifying ingredients. Broccoli, shallot, olive oil, and almonds combine with a few of my favorite Greek flavors to create a simple and utterly delicious side salad. Sun-dried tomatoes play a leading role, of course. Almonds add some crunch and play nicely with the flavor of broccoli.

Feta or kalamata olives lend a bold, salty punch, but they overpowered the other flavors once combined, so I would choose one or the other. This broccoli salad is a fun alternative to more traditional broccoli salad, given its Mediterranean flair. This broccoli salad recipe is perfect when you’re looking for a vibrant, healthy side dish that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. It also packs well for outdoor potlucks and picnics!

Broccoli Salad Tips

Want to make the best broccoli salad around? Here are a few simple tips:

• Cut your broccoli small. Because the broccoli stays raw for this dish, you want to make sure the pieces are small enough to become fully coated and soften in the dressing. Also, when the broccoli pieces are a similar size to the other ingredients in the salad, you can get a little of everything in each bite.
• Let it marinate. This salad is good right after it’s made, but it’s even better after a few hours (or alsodays) in the fridge. The broccoli softens and absorbs the flavors of the dressing – my family loved it on day three!
• Save some nuts for the last minute. Sure, I like to make this salad ahead so that the flavors can develop, but the key to making it great is the super crispy, smoky nuts & seeds on top. If you add them too early, they’ll lose their crunch, so save some to sprinkle on right before serving!

Greek Broccoli Salad

This healthy broccoli salad recipe is packed with my favorite Greek flavors, including sun-dried tomatoes, feta or olives, garlic, and lemon. It’s really easy to prepare and holds up well in the refrigerator, so it’s a great make-ahead side dish or potluck dish. The recipe yields about 4 side servings, so multiply if you’re feeding a crowd.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large bunch of broccoli (about 1 ¼ pound), florets removed, and sliced into small, bite-sized pieces
• ⅓ cup roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes*
• ¼ cup chopped shallot or red onion
• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese or thinly sliced kalamata olives
• ¼ cup sliced almonds

Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup or agave nectar
• 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste
• Pinch red pepper flakes

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a medium-sized serving bowl, toss together the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, shallot or red onion, feta or olives, and almonds.
• In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until emulsified. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss well.
• For best flavor, let the salad rest for 30 minutes before serving so the broccoli has a chance to marinate in the bold, lemony dressing. (It’s great right away, too, though!)