Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe

A favorite, crowd-pleasing potluck or summer salad, try this Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe, made with a delicious, sweet dressing. Everyone loves broccoli salad, and with these “different” ingredients, you can’t go wrong. So sweet, a great holiday side dish! ENJOY (watch the video!)

For me, hospitality is all about love. If you don’t have love in your heart, then it’s hard to be genuine and real and want to give to others.  Hospitality is also more than food (THIS Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe – yum!), a bed, and even planned activities for your guests. The core of being a good host is making your guests feel warm and welcome; providing them a place to relax and feel loved.

But again, good food is always the icing on the cake (wink-wink).

Cold Broccoli Salad

Today I’m sharing my spin on a cold broccoli salad (easy to chill ahead of time), this time made with ingredients I bet you wouldn’t think to add.

In other words, it’s not your usual cranberry or raisin salad. Although bacon and red onion are always essential in this recipe, and you can mix and match the nuts.

Boccoli Salad Dressing

What makes this recipe so summery-good is the sweet salad dressing. Do you ever swap out lime for lemon? Or try different spices? The cayenne pepper is what gives this salad great flavor. Not too much, but just enough for a little kick!

Having people over

You’re a leader when you invite people into your home, especially for a weekend. Some of my best friends came to visit me in central Oregon this past weekend.

As soon as they showed up, and a bunch of hugs were given, you could just feel us all slowing down, and starting to relax … ahhhhh!

Best broccoli salad recipe

For dinner the first night, I cooked a Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon with a Wild Rice Salad, including this Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe. A big hit! You know it’s a big hit when everyone asks for the recipe :)

This is what I learned this past weekend from my lovely friends, who, by the way, spent time on the water with me, paddling to new territory (more coming soon on our kayak trip), riding bikes, walking, eating, shopping, and just “being” present together. It was truly lovely.

Day-to-day lifeline

I learned that my day-to-day lifeline, best-people friends, who now live far away, are still the quality people that I left a year ago, and I love them more today! We’re still cheering each other on and encouraging each other toward the heart of what we all find important in our lives. Life is messy and uncertain, and we’re learning to lean into the seasons of life. We have graduated kids and kids still in college. Life is full and rich, never a dull moment, and most certainly, uncertain!

If you had joined us around the table this first night, you would have heard honest, earnest conversations of conviction, courage, and civility, mixed with a windsome, kindhearted spirit of love. It’s part of respecting and honoring each other, and blessing each other with the gift of a listening ear.

I honor you by really listening to you. By hearing you. And you teach me what’s happening in your heart, and then I will listen.

Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe

Enjoy this Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe. It makes the best leftovers (if there are any), and it’s super yummy served in a wrap. The leftovers don’t get soggy, and the flavor is amost better the 2nd day.

My friends said this was the BEST salad, so I’m taking their word for it :)

Salads are fun to serve for a girlfriend party, right?

Try the recipe (watch the video!)

Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe

Crowd-pleasing potluck and summer salad, Broccoli Bacon Cashew Salad Recipe is made with a delicious, sweet dressing. Everyone’s favorite. Easy to make ahead, doesn’t get soggy!

Yield: 12

Total Time: 15 minuts

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

• 10 cups broccoli, chopped
• 12 pieces bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1/2 large red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup currants (or golden raisins)
• 1 cup cashews, chopped in large chunks
• Dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
2. In a large bowl place the broccoli, bacon, red onion, currants, and cashews. Toss with dressing until well mixed. Salt and pepper to taste.
3. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
4. Serve leftovers in a wrap (with chicken or salmon).

All images and text ©Sandy Coughlin for Reluctant Entertainer.

More summer salads: Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad, Garden Fresh Caprese Salad, Caprese Pickle Salad Kebabs, Barley Salad with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Parsley [Rachel Cooks], Healthy Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese [Foodness Gracious], Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad [A Beautiful Plate].