Italian Broccoli Salad
Published March 29, 2022
- Total Time
- 20 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
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Ingredients
- 1small shallot, thinly sliced
- 1½pounds broccoli (about 2 medium heads)
- Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
- ½cup roasted, salted almonds, coarsely chopped
- ¼cup drained, sliced pickled peppers, such as peperoncini
- ¼cup pitted, torn olives, such as kalamata or Castelvetrano
- ⅓cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- ⅓cup red wine vinegar, plus more as needed
- 3slices provolone (about 3 ounces), torn or cut into bite-size pieces (or use 1½ ounces aged provolone)
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
310 calories; 23 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 19 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 5 grams sugars; 12 grams protein; 634 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
Rinse the sliced shallot under cold water and transfer to a large bowl.
- Step 2
Cut the stalks away from the broccoli heads. Using a knife or vegetable peeler, remove the fibrous outer layer of the stalks so its light green insides emerge; compost or discard the outer layer. Thinly slice the stalks crosswise, then thinly slice the heads into bite-size pieces. (A mix of shapes and sizes adds texture to the salad, so chop up the broccoli a few ways; there’s no one right way to go about it.) Transfer to the large bowl as you go, then transfer any loose bits from the cutting board to the bowl.
- Step 3
Season the broccoli generously with salt and pepper, then add the almonds, pickled peppers, olives, oil, vinegar and provolone. Toss vigorously with a spoon until everything is combined and the broccoli is shiny with oil.
- Step 4
Taste and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, oil and vinegar as needed. Let sit at least 10 minutes before serving. The salad improves with age as its flavors meld, and it can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Before serving, bring to room temperature and adjust salt, pepper, oil and vinegar to taste, as flavors change in the fridge.
Private Notes
Comments
Toss in a handful of chewy raisins or dried cranberries for a sweet note of contrast and texture. Yum.
I'm so glad to see a broccoli salad recipe that isn't sweet! I've made one similar to this for decades. Mine has in addition to the broccoli, stuffed green olives, chopped hard cooked egg, red onion, chopped mushrooms, and just enough lemon juice & mayo dressing to combine everything. I like the idea of the pickled peppers and almonds in this one and am looking forward to trying it. Sweet broccoli salad? Not for me, thank you!
Yay for more Broccoli salads!! Melissa Clark’s Broccoli Salad with Garlic and Sesame is a favorite go-to in our house, so this recipe is definitely up our alley. We usually blanch the broccoli very, very briefly, so that it is just a smidge less crunchy, for our tastes. Going to pair this with homemade pizza, focaccia, or mozzarella sticks on our next night in!
The first time I made this, I didn’t have peppercinni so I used roasted red pepper and it was pretty good. The second time I made it I bought some pepprcinno and added it and it was even better. The provolone is the perfect cheese to go with this, don’t get a mild provolone or a super stinky one, get the middle of the road one, it’s a great salad!
To make this a meal I up the vinegar and oil to 1/2 cup each and add in a bag of cooked and drained medium shell pasta and 1 1/2 cans of cannellini beans (drained and rinsed). Sometimes I add vegan cheese (violife feta, daiya mozzarella shreds or homemade mozzarella) but the salad is just as good without it.
Add a handful of raisins or craisins for a bit of sweetness. It’s a tasty addition.