Broccoli Salad

I know, a broccoli salad doesn't sound appealing, but it has become a favourite amongst my family and friends after I stumbled across it a few years ago. The ingredients work well together and it is relatively healthy.

I don't use or have a fixed recipe for the salad, I use a rough guide which means you can experiment to suit your taste.

Here is how I make my version:

Salad Ingredients

• Fresh broccoli, trimmed from head but with some stalk remaining
• Shortcut bacon, diced
• Red onion, sliced and cut into 3-5cm length
• Sunflower seeds
• Shaved parmesan

Salad Method

• Steam broccoli for 3-5 minutes, then rinse immediately with cold water in a colander
• Fry diced bacon
• Lightly fry sunflower seeds
• Once the above ingredients have cooled, mix together with red onion and shaved parmesan in a bowl.

To tie all the ingredients together and make the pop, you need a dressing. Some would be quick to jump to a creamy dressing, but as I mostly make this salad for barbeques I find it can be too heavy, so for balance, I make a lemon mustard vinaigrette.

Once again, I don't use a fixed recipe but the important thing is to continually taste as you go to suit your taste buds.

Dressing Ingredients (goes something like this)

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Dressing method

• Mix all together and pour over salad

I highly recommend giving it a try. You don't need to be a master chef to create this salad and you will be pleaseantly surpised.