This isn’t about my New Year’s Resolution.
This salad has nothing to do with the obscene amount of lasagna I ate this December. I embrace that lasagna, every bit.
This big bowl of apples and broccoli are simply a testament to my brain-tummy. This is what it asked for. And I thank it (my brian-tummy)… because usually it asks for cinnamon rolls and root beer and I have to convince it otherwise. My brain-tummy is in a constant passive-aggressive fight with my thigh-tummies.
In other news: I can’t believe the internet continues to let me have a blog.
In ultra-other news: Yes… this is still happening.
If we were to boil down to the essence of what I’m trying to say, it would be this: I made a salad. It was really delicious. I ate the whole thing. It was healthy and made me feels strong and capable… like my college education. I’ll stop saying brian-tummy starting exactly right now.
This salad has such romantic beginnings.
While the recipe below details numerical measurements, a big bowl and a few large spoons will suit you just fine.
One giant spoon of whole grain mustard meets a slightly less giant spoon of raw honey. A good dose of olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper.
Stir with spirit.
The rest of the salad ingredients will be added to this large bowl. Why is that romantic to me? Something about a large bowl with two spoons makes me sentimental.
Apples, arugula, and sunflower seeds are usually strangers in my kitchen until I force their friendship.
Broccoli has no idea what it’s doing at this salad party…
This recipe uses both broccoli florets and the stems. All broccoli bits are steamed until juuuuust a bit of their raw crunch is cooked out.
This unlikely cast of characters is absolutely delicious. This salad is hearty and filling, while still feeling light and fun. I also love that this salad is durable, making it a really great salad to take to work for lunch.
If you’re anything like me, you have a random assortment of weird kitchen items in your purse, a yogurt spoon, a pound of butter, and a jar of this salad.
This salad is sweet and savory. It’s the homemade Honey Mustard Dressing. It brings everything together, and sets it all apart. It’s salad, and so it all makes sense.
Honey Mustard, Broccoli & Apple Salad
serves 2 large or 4 small portions
adapted from The Sprouted Kitchen
For the Salad:
2 bunches (about 1 pound total) broccoli with stems
1/2 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds (seeds not seeds in shells)
1 Fuji apple, cored and sliced thin
heaping 1/4 cup arugula leaves (or you can use finely chopped parsley instead)
For the Dressing:
3 tablespoons whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons vinegar (white wine, apple cider, red wine, or coconut)
salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Place a large pot with about 1 inch of water over a medium-high heat. Insert a steamer into the pot and bring the water to a low boil.
Cut broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice broccoli stems and add both the florets and the stems to the steamer. Cover and allow to steam for about 2 minutes, or until the hard raw crunch is cooked from the broccoli. Remove from the steamer and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine mustard, honey, olive oil, vinegar, and a few pinches of salt and better. Whisk vigorously until thoroughly combined. Add broccoli, sunflower seeds, sliced apple, and arugula to the bowl. Toss until every piece is coated in dressing.
Chill for about 30 minutes. Serve cold. This salad is best served the day it is made.
Tartaruga
Hey!
I came across your blog yesterday and I was like – wow. Just overwhelming! So many delicious recipes, so many creative ideas. You are amazing and really talented!
Everything sounds so delicious, so it was hard to choose one, but today I’ve tried one of your recipes out – this great salad. It was fantastic and I wondered that I’m able to cook something delicious – just because of you :3
Tomorrow I’ll try your Banana Cranberry Bread – just boght the ingredients. I’m really looking forward to it :D
Keep baking and cooking, your really amazing & I hold your deeds in veneration! :)
By the way – sorry for my horrible English, I’m not a native speaker! Hope you will understand me anyway :)
Lots of love & have a nice week!
Fiona
This looks so refreshing and yummy! Can’t wait to try it.
Elaine
Perfect! Simple and fresh. Thanks for sharing.
Eileen
I fell in love your website during a baking craze a couple of years ago, but keep coming back because of the delicious soups and salads you weave into the mix. I was looking for a new salad to make for guests, and tried this one yesterday when we had friends for lunch. It was delicious, and we’ll be making it again & again. Thanks!
joythebaker
i love this!!
Carole
Hi there. Food on Friday: Mustard on Carole’s Chatter is now open for entries. This looks like a good recipe using mustard! I do hope you link it in. This is the link . Please do pop back to check out some of the other links. Have a great week.
FashionEdible
I love the combination of both! Going to have to try this…
Cookie and Kate
Hearty, crunchy salads with tangy dressings are where it’s at! I need one of these after all the quesadillas and nachos I’ve been eating (all in the name of my blog, of course).
Cassie
Oh my heavens – this was delicious! Made it last weekend for the starter course of dinner I made with friend and we both loved it!
Thank you!
SaRaH
i’ll get a try!
With the same dressing, i made an other salad : arugula, pear and gingerbread in cubes. Always a hit!
stacy
“something about a large bowl with two spoons makes me sentimental.” You are a darling, Joy and I completely agree.
Alicen
My brain-tummy has switched to salads since January 2nd :) Mostly just a handful of baby greens topped with 1/2 a sweet pepper, 1/2 an avocado, some cherry tomatoes, some cucumber and some celery. I like to dress it with olive oil and apple cider vinegar with a bit of salt and pepper. SO tasty!
I didn’t realize I enjoyed salads so much. I often just don’t take the time to make them, I guess.
I’ll have to try adding some apples and broccoli – Yum!