Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Lemon Dressing
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Crazy thing is – this broccoli cauliflower salad only has 7 ingredients (including the dressing!). Besides the amazing flayva, what I love most about this salad is the “make-ahead” factor. This salad is just as good (if not better) after it’s been in the fridge melding with the dressing overnight.
So if you’re cooking up a storm for dinner, remember that you can make this salad the day before to take some pressure off. This Broccoli cranberry salad is so easy to put together and the flavors and textures just work; crisp, crunchy, chewy. Party in ‘ma mouth!
One of my readers, Margarita Storchevoy, wrote in with this Christmas salad recipe and said it was one of her favorite recipes for the holidays. That same day we bought the ingredients and recreated it; love at first bite!
I then made it for my sister-in-law, Nadia’s Christmas dinner and again on Christmas Eve at my Parent’s house. Rave reviews from everyone! Nadia requested the recipe the very next day. It’s a winner, my friends #forserious. Y’all need to try it for New Years!
Watch How to Make Broccoli Cauliflower Salad:
Ingredients for Broccoli Cauliflower Salad:
1 medium head of broccoli
1 medium head of cauliflower
3/4 cup dried cranberries (craisins)
1/2 cup pine nuts or almond slices, toasted on a dry skillet until golden
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)
1/2 cup real mayonnaise
How to make Broccoli Cauliflower Salad:
1. Cut broccoli into small florets. I peel the stems then dice them and add them to the salad also (no waste!). Cut the cauliflower into small pieces also. This process is made razor fast when you have a food chopper (like this Vidalia chop wizard that we use). Transfer to a large mixing bowl along with cranberries and toasted pine nuts.
2. Stir together 2 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 cup mayo until smooth.
3. Add dressing to the salad to taste (I put all of it in) and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Lemon Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of broccoli
- 1 medium head of cauliflower
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries craisins
- 1/2 cup pine nuts or almond slices toasted on a dry skillet until golden
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
Instructions
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How to make Broccoli Cauliflower Salad:
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Cut broccoli into small florets. I peel the stems then dice them and add them to the salad also (no waste!). Cut the cauliflower into small pieces also. Transfer to a large mixing bowl along with cranberries and toasted pine nuts.
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Stir together 2 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 cup mayo until smooth.
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Add dressing to the salad to taste (I put all of it in) and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Easy Peasy! I hope you have a happy and blessed New Year’s!
The broccoli cauliflower salad turned out Great! Thank you.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Can i use frozen broccoli/cauliflour?
Hi Lori, I would recommend using fresh vegetables for this salad.
If you add sour cream and mustard (and a very little sugar) to the dressing it will be even better, and won’t have that annoying oily after-taste that mayonnaise often has.
Thank you for sharing that with me Alex!
how long would this salad keep. i live alone so i need smaller versions of these recipes or tips on making them keep longer. thanks
Hi Erin, I have made it ahead with good results but I do think it is best fresh or eaten within a couple of days after it is made.
This is my Go-To recipe at Christmas, and any time I’m a guest at a dinner party. Everyone loves it! It’s easy to make, and travels well. 5 Stars!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Katie!
Over the months of using your recipes, I have to tell you that you are my NEW FAVORITE chef!! I love your easy/delicious recipes and your enjoyable videos. I guess I’m saying that I’m so glad that you found me (through FB). I hope you’ll be with us all for a long, long time. Thank You!!
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! You’re so nice! Thank you!
I am making this salad now for tomorrow. The dressing is amazing!!!!!! Another keeper from Natasha.. xo
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful feedback!
Thank you for your delicious recipe, and your good ideas, for a Healthier Life. Blessings!!
You’re so welcome! Thank you for that wonderful compliment!
That’s a very easy recipe. Thanks for sharing. But does one need to boil the broccoli and cauliflower before adding other ingredients ?
Hi Arindam! Some choose to blanch it, we like the crunch and freshness of it without that.
Just made my 2nd batch. I used Greek yogurt as it’s what was on hand, bumped up the honey a bit, and my taste-testers here at our summer place like it as is. Used slivered almonds because we are in Upper Nowhere and that’s what ya get! But I added some fresh lemon basil from my potted herb garden. Amazing!!!
Thank you for sharing your healthier version with us! That sounds sooo good!
All my guests love this salad! The dressing goes exceptionally well with this salad!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
How soon should you eat this salad? Does it taste good a few days later?
Hi Brittanie, I have made it ahead with good results but I do think it is best fresh or eaten within a couple of days after it is made.
Hi Natasha! I was wondering if you think adding chicken to this salad would be a good addition, or should I just leave it on the side? 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Debbie, we usually just serve the meat on the side but I think diced chicken might work nicely here 🙂
Thank you! I think this sounds so yummy and would be a great salad to take to work. I’m going to give it a try with the diced chicken. 🙂
Thank you for sharing
I will make it tonight
My pleasure Vickie! Please let me know what you think!
Hi, I was wondering if I need to steam the broccoli and cauliflower for a little bit.
thank you, can’t wait to try it.
Hi Anne, we add the broccoli and cauliflower raw because we love the crunch 🙂
Made this salad to bring as part of our Thanksgiving potluck at work this week and we all really enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing this simple and tasty salad!!
You’re welcome Olga! I’m happy to hear the recipe is a HIT! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!
I ended up with too much broccoli/cauliflower mix and not enough mayo to make more dressing. Used non-fat plain Greek yogurt, increased honey to 3 to 4T -preferred this mixture to the mayo😋
Thanks for sharing your healthier substitution!
Love all your recipe, always want to eat healthy food, but I have no imaginations in food combinations. I think I can eat healthier with your recipes, thank you for sharing
You’re welcome Elsa! Please let me know what you think of the recipes! 🙂
I just made this salad with pecans and added green apple, onion and blue cheese. I know it may sound a little odd but it is fantastic!!!
Kristina, thank you for the wonderful review, I’m so glad you love it 😀
would love this salad recipe
Did you omit the mayo dressing and replace it with the blue cheese or just add blue cheese crumbles to this?
Do you have a carb. count on this salad? It looks wonderful but I am a diabetic and have to watch my carb. Honey is ok.
Due to time constraints, I don’t typically include nutritional info, but check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you Rachel!
Am anxious to try this. Any suggestions for a substitute for the almonds? (Can’t use nuts or sunflower seeds due to food allergies.) Thanks!
Hi CK, you could just omit the nuts and the salad would still taste good. You might also check out my other very popular broccoli salad recipe for inspiration (it does have pecans which can easily be omitted as well).
Hi,
I am making this salad in a few days. It sounds simply delicious. Wondering if the saladcan be made the night before?
Hi Polly, Refrigerating this particular salad will still taste great the next day! I hope you love it! (sorry I told you wrong before – I was thinking of a different cauliflower salad)!! :-O
However at the introduction of this recipe you claim it is even better made the night before and letting the flavours meld together.
Oh snap! You’re right, I was thinking of a different salad! Thank you Michelle!!
Hi, crispy bacon and red onion makes a nice addition to this recipe, enjoy. M.
Mmmm, that does sound good Marilyn! Thank you 🙂
Natasha Thanks for this super salad we enjoyed it today, and it was soooo good. My kids were happy as they sea it here. We love your kitchen………Blessing to your family.
Nina, thank you for such a nice review! Blessings to you and your family as well 😀.
Hi Natasha, I never ate raw cauliflower and broccoli before. Then I found this salad and decided give it a go because I trusted your recipes. Omg! You know what? It was so delicious! I substituted raisin for craisin. Thanks for your hard work! I really love your food blog ❤
Kim, thank you for another rave review and you are very welcome 😀. You never know if you like something unless you give it a try 😬.
Silly question…but are the broccoli and cauliflower raw? Not cook? When put in the salad?
It’s a great question! Yes they are both raw/un-cooked 🙂
This salad was introduced to me by a friend and I fell in love with its simple yet delicious taste! It’s now a favorite in my recipe collection!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for sharing your awesome review 🙂
I made this salad for Ukrainian Christmas. Everybody liked it. Even my mom-in-law who hates nuts of any kind. But she loved pine nuts because they were so soft. Thanks for sharing it!!
Oksana, thank you for such a nice review and you are welcome 😃.
I made this salad for our new years dinner and everyone loved it! The leftovers the next day were just as good! Great recipe!
Angie, thank you for the nice review. I’m happy to hear that everyone loved it 😁.
Yum!! Delicious and so easy too. Pinned!
Thank you so much for pinning 😀.
This is a very nice recipe i have that is kind of like this but in a wrap, you can see it at http://svetasrecipes.com
Sveta, I love the idea of putting it in a wrap. Thanks for sharing that with me.
Hi. Is there anyway to get the nutritional information on your recipes?
Hi Saire, I don’t typically include calorie counts, but if you go to caloriecount.com you can plug in the ingredients and servings and figured out pretty easily that way. I hope that helps!
Hi Natasha! This sounds delicious. I was wondering how this salad would taste without the honey. I want to make it without any sweetener (except for what’s in the craisins), but I would hate to try it & end up not wanting to eat it. What do you think?
Hi Maya, I haven’t tried it without honey so I’m not sure if the dressing would be very good without it since it does add really good flavor.
Hi Natasha! I love all your salads and my success with your other salads makes me want to try this one also. If you tell me it’s good, then I believe you. No doubts there. My one question: should the broccoli and cauliflower be parboiled or steamed first? Thanks in advance!
HI Esther, yes I do love this salad and had ALOT of it over the holidays :). No need to steam or parboil. Just use it raw. The crunch from them is nice in the salad 🙂
I just finished making this for tonight’s New Year celebration. I can’t stop eating it, it’s so good. I love broccoli salads and this one didn’t disappoint. Thank you for sharing. 5 stars.
Marina, thank you for such a nice review and you are welcome 😁.
This salad looks wonderful! Yet another awesome creation by Natasha. 🙂
By the way, any kind of pine nuts can cause bitter taste in the mouth for a few days, like Ziz’ka mentioned, if consumed in large quantities. But one would need to eat at least 1/2 cup to experience that. I’ve had it couple of times already. 🙂 🙂 🙂 BIG FAN.
I definitely learned something new about pine nuts! That is so crazy! Thanks for sharing that. It’s a good thing pine nuts are spendy so it’s less tempting to indulge in them :), although I do love them!
Thank you for this recipe. Definitely will make one for one of my parties. By the way be careful with pine nuts. If you eat too many pine nuts then you lose tasting sense for a week… (from my own experience)
Wow I’ve never heard that before! I did a little google researching and some sources say that it has to do with pine nuts from China? One person mentioned the experience after buying pine nuts from the bins at Winco – weird, while they had no problems with Costco pine nuts. Very interesting! I guess it’s good you can use almonds instead 🙂
What a yummy looking recipe from Margarita – thanks for sharing! This would make a delicious lunch this week! 😀
Thanks Roxana! 🙂
Look so delicious that I wouldn’t mind it being good for me!
Happy 2016, Natasha! xo
Ha ha! I completely agree! 🙂 thank you and I hope you also have a wonderful 2016!
I add pomegranate seeds instead of cranberries, works great, and gives this “sourness” flavor, which balances off the sweet dressing.
That sounds great and I bet it is beautiful in the bowl with pomegranate seeds! Thanks for sharing that with me!