This Vegan Paleo Broccoli Cashew Salad is jazzed up with a curried cashew cream dressing. It’s a quick, easy and healthy side that’s always a crowd pleaser!
PIN Vegan Paleo Broccoli Cashew Salad
(Originally posted in 2015, photos updated Feb 2019, narration not changed)
Oh, hey broccoli salad filled with innocent looking mini tree twins.
Why does your healthy, bright-green exterior need to be SO MISLEADING?
Are you confused? Do I have you HOOKED as to what on earth I am talking about? Yes?
The plan is working.
No? I’m going to ignore you. Just for right now though. Then I will continue loving you forever. <3
I bet you think I am talking about the association of broccoli salad being healthy because it’s, well, full of crunchy vegetal-friend goodness. And then you DOUSE it in ALL THE MAYO and it more resembles a sweet potato salad, and only resembles a shadow of what nutritious broccoli once was.
Too dramatic? Never.
Anywho. Not talking about that today. What I AM talking about is the days back in the Old Country (read: Canada) and the night of my birthday.
I don’t remember how old I was turning. I am 28 and all, you can’t except me to remember things anymore.
My mother made a MASSIVE BOWL (like bigger than my face kinda massive. Except my face is kind of small, so that’s not the most accurate description. Whatever. You get it) of my favorite broccoli salad recipe.
There is no kind of broccoli salad that I DON’T LIKE. Asian broccoli salad, Greek broccoli salad or this vegan paleo broccoli cashew salad. You make it, I want it. But Momma FFF? Hers was my FAV!
And, being “that kind of person” that falls in love with a food and then proceeds to eat it 100 times a day for all the evers (I’m looking at you cookie dough overnight oats and mango chicken with coconut cauliflower rice) I ate about ¾ of the bowl TO MYSELF. Like 3/4 of the WHOLE massive-size-of-face bowl. Not 3/4 of a singular-serving-sized-bowl
It’s my party. I can eat broccoli salad if I wannaaaaa.
See also: go big or GO HOME.
What I had not learned in my juvenile not-so-experienced life is that raw broccoli? It does not do happy things to tummies if eaten in a portion that was SUPPOSED to serve 8 people. Is it just me or are “proper” serving sizes SOSOSO misleading?
I mean, have you ever actually measured 1/2 cup of ice cream?
Pro tip: Don’t do it. Unless you want to CRY.
I woke in the middle of the night, and I had the worst stomach cramps ever. I thought I was DYING you guys. I woke up my mom and told her that I loved her and that this would be the last night she ever saw me again, because I thought I had some rare, over-night stomach tumor growing inside of me.
Fun fact: I was a TOTAL hypochondriac growing up. I’ve lost count of the number of “tumors” and cases of “spinal meningitis” I’ve had.
You know what she did? Laughed and told me that’s what I get for eating too much broccoli. AND WENT BACK TO BED.
ON MY BIRTHDAY. I can’t confirm or deny that I’m still a little bit scarred by the lack of LOVE and FUZZIES I got that night.
Hint: I am.
Now that I’ve told you my broccoli life story, I just want to discuss the fact that the dressing on this vegan paleo broccoli cashew salad is about 1 million times healthier AND, the creamy factor? It’s from out of control CRAZY TOWN.
Like the avocado smoothie bowl, I used Cashew Cream to make this salad healthy and Paleo-friendly. But, I took a few notes from the Indian Paleo Chicken Kebab Recipe and added a LITTLE curry kick because spice is kind of my life.
Don’t worry thought. It’s just a LITTLE kick. You’re tough STUFF and can handle it.
How to make Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is the easiest thing to make because it requires NO cooking.
- Chop up all your vegetables, making sure to cut your broccoli into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Mix everything, except your nuts and seeds, in a large bowl.
- Add in the dressing and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at LEAST 1 hour, but best at least 4 hours. Then the dressing can soak into the broccoli and make it just SO GOOD omg.
- Stir in the crunchy bits and SERVE!
Speaking of things to stir in, instead of raisins (because I think raisins are an abomination to the food world) I used dried cranberries for a little pop of sweetness, and some MORE cashews and sunflower seeds for some CRUNCHYCRUNCHYYUM texture goodness. Of course there’s bacon because what kind of broccoli salad is good without it.
Just kidding. This one is still TOTALLY good if you wanna leave them out and make it a vegetarian broccoli salad recipe!
However you make it, just don’t eat it all in ONE serving.
Learn from my poor life choices.
Other Recipes You Might Like:
Air Fryer Roasted Asian Broccoli
Mediterranean Low Carb Broccoli Salad
Paleo Low Carb Keto Beef and Broccoli
Healthy Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 3/4 Cup Roasted, Salted Cashews soaked in water overnight (105g)
- 5 1/2 Tbsp Water
- 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 4 tsp Yellow curry powder
- 2 1/2 tsp Honey (or agave for vegan)
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- Pinch of pepper
For the salad:
- 4 Cups Broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces (230g)
- 1/2 Cup Cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1/4 Cup Red onion, diced
- 1/4 Cup Dried unsweetened cranberries, roughly chopped (28g)
- 2 Slices Cooked Bacon, diced (omit for vegan)
- 2 Tbsp Sunflower seeds (15g)
- 2 Tbsp Roasted salted Cashews, chopped (12g)
Instructions
- Drain the cashews and place into a small food processor (mine is 3 cups.) Add the remaining dressing ingredients into the food processor and blend until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides often. This will take a few minutes so be patient.
- In a large bowl combine the broccoli, red onion, cilantro, bacon and cranberries. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Stir in the dressing until the salad is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors develop.
- Just before serving, mix in the sunflower seeds and cashews and DEVOUR
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PER SERVING: FREESTYLE POINTS: 9 POINTS+: 8. OLD POINTS: 6
(per 1/4 the recipe)
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Tara Shaw says
I’m not finding the recipe anywhere on the page. Please share!? It looks and sounds so delish!
Taylor Kiser says
Hey Tara…you have to scroll down to where it says CLICK HERE for the recipe 🙂
Leah says
I just tried to find this recipe on WholeYum and cannot find it. Was it ever resolved? I would love to make it.
Thanks!
Taylor Kiser says
Unfortunately, it never was – I am sorry! I emailed them almost daily…and nothing 🙁
Taylor Kiser says
Just wanted to let you know it’s fixed!
Leah says
What a shame! It looks so good. I would love to make it. Thanks for the quick reply however.
Taylor Kiser says
I know! I am still hoping it comes back one day! You’re welcome!
Taylor Kiser says
Just wanted to let you know it’s fixed!
Leah says
Oh Yay! I’m going to quickly print it just in case it goes away again 🙂 Thank you so much for working to get it back and for taking the time to let those of us who asked about it know that it is back up. I really appreciate it.
Taylor Kiser says
Haha GOOD CALL! You just never know! 🙂 You are so welcome – I hope that you love it! <3
Traci says
Hi Taylor,
I’m new to your page and this is the first recipe that I have tried to make – unfortunately, I am unable to find the recipe on the Whole Yum link. Could you please send me the recipe, if you are not able to just re-post it? How disheartening that the first recipe I try to make is not available.
Taylor Kiser says
That is SO disheartening and I am SO sorry! Unfortunately, I can’t re-post it as I no longer have this recipe – I lost all my old recipes when I had a huge computer crash a few years back. I have honestly emailed Whole Yum EVERY SINGLE week to get this back up and they keep saying “they are working on it.” but I have yet to see anything. I am so incredibly sorry! I will keep harassing them!
Taylor Kiser says
Just wanted to let you know it’s fixed!
Traci says
Wonderful!!! Thank you so much, Taylor, for letting me know and for your diligence in getting it back up! Can’t wait to make this!
Taylor Kiser says
You are so welcome!! 🙂 I hope you love it!
Amanda says
Hello, this looks amazing and exactly like what I am looking for but I can’t get the recipe every time I use the link it says page not found. I was wondering where I could get the recipe. Thank you so much.
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Amanda! I am so sorry, the website is having issues! If you want to email me at [email protected], I can email it to you!
Jim Murray says
It would be an interesting idea if you posted recipes that actually existed at the links you provide. I could not find the recipe for this broccoli salad anywhere. If I can’t find the recipes, what’s the point in continuing to subscribe?
Taylor says
Thanks for the input Jim – I’ll examine our links and make sure they all work.
Krista Fifield says
Cannot find recipe because link isn’t working. Can anyone cut and paste here?
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Krista! I’ve been trying to get them to post the link forever. I am going to put it at the bottom of the post today, so it’ll be there! 🙂
Liz says
This looks wonderful! I was wondering, is the agave a deal breaker?
Taylor Kiser says
It is quite necessary to balance out the flavors I think!
Laurel Parshall says
2 other change outs come to mind. One, while I love cranberries and use a handful just about every day, my younger sister does not (she is also with you about raisins being abominable). I do also love dried Montmorecy cherries in broccoli salads, because, sweet and tart they are, numb-ley goodness!
The second is, as another vegan substitute for the bacon (for those of us who still follow the ‘meat-en’ path, what isn’t even better with bacon, I know!) … but, last Friday, in my Costco rambling, pops up a new little snack item….Shitake Mushroom Crisps! DJ & A is the manufacturer name, they vacuum cook them with rice/sustainable palm/canola oils, maltose, sea salt, yeast extract, spices, onion, garlic, natural flavor (not explained-sadly). They are crispy-crunchy, munchy then a smooth slide down the throat treat. Not bacon, but something for that crunch craving that bacon also satisfies. Just a thought or three…
Taylor Kiser says
Interesting about the crisps! And cherries would be SO good! 🙂
Cassie Autumn Tran says
I would love to pair this delicious salad with some tofu or tempeh and eat it as a meal! Nothing beats a yummy salad for lunch. You can’t go wrong with packing in the most vegetables as possible in the beginning and the middle of the day to optimize your energy levels!
Taylor Kiser says
I hope that you love it friend! And totally agree on the veggies!