Broccoli salad.....raw or cooked?!


Question:

Broccoli salad.....raw or cooked?

I am planning on making broccoli salad for the first time this weekend. Is the broccoli supposed to be raw or is it ok to steam it to soften it up a bit?


Answers:
The way I make broccoli salad is with raw broccoli. The recipe we use at my job is:
broccoli florettes-washed and cut into bite size pieces (for serving 4-8 ppl., use 2 broccoli heads and only use the tops)
1 medium red onion diced
11/2 cups of cubed provolone cheese
1/2 cup of crumbled cooked bacon
Dressing
1 cup mayo
1/8 cup apple cidar vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
hand toss top ingredients and whisk the dressing together in a separate bowl. The dressing will be sweet but tart. Drizzle over the broccoli mixture and cover all ingredients with the dressing. Chill for 1 hour before serving.

blanch it............. drop it in boiling water for one min then in ice water to stop cooking it will not soften it up, but make the green stand out more.

slightly blanched will be brighter green, feel better in the mouth, taste sweeter, and be less gassy.

Best just blanched say 10 seconds.
steamed - - OK - - not cooked

steam is much better to eat.

I prefer it raw, especially in a salad.

Typically broccoli salad is not cooked. If made the night ahead, the Italian dressing or vinegar can "cook" the broccoli.

I was a pastry/salad chef at a local country club, below is a recipe I liked to use. I hope it helps...

Broccoli Salad

3 heads Broccoli florets
1 head Cauliflower florets
1 bag baby carrots (quartered length-wise)
2 cans Artichoke Hearts (quartered)
1 Red Onion (sliced thin strips)
1 can Small Olives
1 pint of grape seed Tomatoes
1 can Goya pink beans (rinsed)
8 oz. grated cheddar
Italian Dressing

One night ahead…
Combine Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Artichoke, Red onion, Olives, Tomatoes, and Italian dressing. Refrigerate.

Before serving stir in Pink Beans and top with Cheddar.

its not supposed to be cooked, leave it raw

I cut mine up into bite-sized pieces and cook in the microwave for 3 minutes-- steaming it would give you about the same thing, I think.

We have ours raw in the salad it's great.




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