I’ve seen many, many different versions of this yummy broccoli salad. It’s often prepared with both cauliflower and broccoli (1 bunch of each), or all broccoli (use two bunches)…but I love to substitute some whole wheat pasta for some of the veg. Besides being amazingly tasty, the broccoli/pasta combination lets this salad stand as a main dish, if you’d like. This is an incredibly adaptable recipe: you can make additions or substitutions based on what you like or have on hand. I’ve seen this made with peas, almonds, dried cranberries, broccoli slaw, cheddar cheese—even grapes. Really, it’s hard to go wrong with this one! Here’s my favorite version:

Broccoli Pasta Salad

1 (12 oz) package whole wheat pasta

1 bunch broccoli, finely chopped (about 5 cups)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup raisins

1 cup salted sunflower seeds

10 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Dressing:

1½-2 cups Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise)

½ cup honey (or your favorite sweetener)

¼  cup apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)

¼ tsp ground black pepper

Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions; drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Set aside in the colander to drain well. In a small bowl, combine 1½ cups Miracle Whip with the remaining dressing ingredients. Stir until mixed well, and set aside or store in a covered container. In a large bowl, combine chopped broccoli, cooked pasta, onions, and raisins. Stir together with the dressing until everything is coated and well-combined. Cover the salad and refrigerate at least thirty minutes, or up to two days. Stir in the sunflower seeds and bacon directly before serving the salad.

Depending on how long you store this salad before serving, you may need to add additional Miracle Whip (and maybe a Tablespoon or so of vinegar as well) when you stir in the nuts and bacon. The pasta tends to absorb the dressing somewhat, and it may become a bit dry—be sure to taste and adjust before serving!

Enjoy!

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Posted in : Baby Shower, Baby Shower Planning, Baby Shower Recipes, Shannon's Blogs