Easy Roasted Broccoli Salad with a Creamy Tahini Sauce to Top It Off
Did you dread it when your parents urged you to “eat your broccoli” growing up?
Well, their intentions were good. Broccoli is packed with health benefits.
But, their broccoli probably didn’t taste good. Or it was loaded with butter and/or cheese and came in a microwavable pouch (like mine was).
This roasted broccoli salad recipe isn’t that kind of boring, tasteless broccoli that you hated to eat as a kid. This is adult broccoli. And you are actually going to want to eat it.
This healthy roasted broccoli salad is crispy, nutty, salty goodness. Add a delicious and creamy sauce to the roasted veggie?
Now we’re talking about a show stopper healthy side dish.
It is perfect as a vegan side dish or full meal. The tahini sauce is substantial and filling so you won’t go hungry.
With this recipe, you’ll be the one saying “eat your broccoli”.
The only difference?
It will taste delicious.
Health Benefits of this Roasted Broccoli Salad
There are good reasons why parents urge their children to “eat your broccoli”. Here are a few:
Broccoli is packed with vitamins and minerals. According to WebMD, broccoli is rich in a long list of nutrients such as calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, B12, D, E, and K. In addition, one cup of broccoli has as much vitamin C as an orange!
What does all this mean? Broccoli contributes to bone, skin, cardiovascular, and digestive health while boosting your immunity and lowering inflammation in the body. (Source: Medical News Today)
Broccoli may help minimize the risk of certain health conditions. Studies have shown that a natural chemical in broccoli, sulforaphane, may help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and arthritis (Source: WebMD)
So, our parents were right all along.
How Long Does this Roasted Broccoli Salad Keep?
This broccoli salad will last 3-4 days covered in the refrigerator.
You can reheat this salad, but it is delicious at room temperature or even just out of the refrigerator.
In general, roasted vegetables are delicious at room temperature. This broccoli salad is no different. It is a great make-ahead dish.
How Should I Store this Roasted Broccoli Salad?
This salad should be stored, covered in the refrigerator. I love these OXO glass containers for storing completed dishes like this broccoli salad. You can store, cover, reheat (if needed), and serve all in one container.
Is There Any Other Way to Cook the Broccoli?
I love roasted broccoli because it takes on a great crisp and char. You can cook the broccoli pretty much any way you’d like, but the results may be different. Here is a rundown of the different methods you can use:
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Grill – Grilled broccoli is amazing and would be perfectly suitable for this dish. It will provide you with a similar char and crispiness To grill broccoli, follow the same steps to prepare the broccoli, except add them to a grill pan and grill until crispy and charred.
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Blanch + Saute – Blanch the broccoli to ensure it is cooked all the way through then place in a hot skillet to char like in this recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi. This is also a great method to get some crisp, charred broccoli.
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Saute – I rarely saute broccoli. The thickness of the florets make it difficult to cook all the way through while maintaining a good amount of brownness. It’s easier and the results are better with the oven or grill.
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Blanch – This is a good option if you don’t want any char on your broccoli. Bring a pot of water to boil, add a few tablespoons of salt, and add broccoli for about 4 minutes.
How To Buy Broccoli
Look for broccoli that has tightly packed and dense floret heads. The stalk should be very firm. There should be no signs of yellow, brown or drying out.
Where To Buy Broccoli
As with any fresh produce, farmer’s markets are one of the best places to get fresh broccoli. Find a farmer’s market near you in this farmer’s market directory. But, if you live in a place like me where it’s cold for a solid chunk of the year, that isn’t always an option.
Produce delivery is the most convenient way to get groceries. It is rapidly growing and for good reason. There are many different sites where you can order some or all of your groceries to your doorstep at the click of a button.
To see which produce delivery service is best for you, check out this post on the 8 best places to get your vegetables online.
Are There Any Optional Ingredients?
Want to make this a more filling meal or add some spice? Check out these ideas for ingredient additions.
For spice, sprinkle 1/4-1/2 tsp. of crushed red pepper over the finished salad.
To make this a more filling meal, add one or multiple of the following:
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Hard boiled egg – Follow the directions in this potato salad recipe to make two 7-minute hard boiled eggs. Break up the eggs, add an extra tablespoon of dressing and toss.
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Beans – Add a can of drained and rinsed white bean such as chickpeas or cannellini. Or cook with dried beans and add 1.5 cups of cooked beans.
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Nuts – Top this salad with a handful of peanuts, almonds, walnuts, or another one of your favorite nuts.
Don’t Have Any Tahini? Try One of These Dressings Instead.
Here are a few other dressings that would be great for topping roasted broccoli:
Want More Salad Recipes? Check These Out.
Sometimes, you just need a healthy salad. A light dish that resets your appetite.
Check these simple salad recipes:
Roasted Broccoli Salad with Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 2-3 broccoli heads (about 1.25-1.5 pounds)
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 6 dried dates, chopped
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup Tahini Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Cut off the bottom 2” or so of the broccoli heads to remove any woody bottoms. Tear and/or cut florets into large pieces with some stock attached. Cut the remainder of the stalk into 1/2” slices and add to a baking sheet.
- Toss broccoli with olive oil and 1 1/4 tsp. of salt. Roast for 15 minutes and toss. Continue roasting for 15-20 minutes until broccoli is nicely browned and tender.
- While broccoli is roasting, make the tahini sauce if you do not already have it prepped.
- To serve, combine dates and broccoli. Drizzle 1/3-1/2 cup of tahini sauce over the salad. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Ready to Make This Roasted Broccoli Salad?
You now have the broccoli recipe that will change the mind of anyone who thinks they don’t like it. Including you. Now, it’s time to make it and “eat your broccoli”.
Roasting vegetables is the perfect way to make crispy and browned veggies. Rather than mushy, soft, and bland veggies. Download my free guide below to learn how to avoid the most common mistakes made when roasting vegetables.