Broccoli Salad

IRELAND

Creamy, Herby, Raw Broccoli Salad

SUBMITTED BY

Rose

Rose’s favorite way to eat broccoli comes in the form of this life-changing, crunchy salad!

Irish Broccoli Salad is a vibrant, texture-packed dish that celebrates the creative use of fresh broccoli in a simple yet flavorful way. Popular at family gatherings, potlucks, and everyday dinners across Ireland, this salad transforms humble vegetables into a colorful, satisfying side that feels both rustic and modern.

The star of this Irish broccoli salad recipe is one full head of broccoli, chopped small but still substantial enough to deliver crunch in every bite. Instead of cooking it down, the broccoli is kept raw, preserving its natural bite and bright green color. Grated carrots are added in nearly equal volume, bringing sweetness and a beautiful contrast, while finely chopped red onions provide a gentle sharpness that balances the dish.

To elevate the texture, toasted hazelnuts are folded in. Gently toasted in a dry pan until fragrant and lightly golden, they add warmth, nuttiness, and a satisfying crunch. This creative use of broccoli shines through in how it pairs with these earthy, sweet, and tangy elements.

The creamy lemon herb dressing ties everything together. A blend of garlic, mayo, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a fragrant mix of basil and parsley creates a bright, zesty coating. The key is moderation—just enough dressing to coat the vegetables while still showcasing their vibrant colors.

This Irish Broccoli Salad is fresh, crunchy, and full of flavor, proving broccoli can be the bold, beautiful centerpiece of any table.

Broccoli Salad

Servings 8

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients
  

For the salad

  • 1 head broccoli chopped small, but still substantial
  • 4 carrots grated
  • 1-2 red onions chopped, about ¼-⅓ of the volume of the other veggies
  • 100 g hazelnuts

For the dressing

  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • fresh basil & parsley to taste, but in a 2:1 (basil to parsley) ratio
  • sugar if needed

Instructions
 

  • For the dressing, blitz all the ingredients together in a blender and set aside.
  • Toast your hazelnuts. In a large dry frying pan where they can lie in one layer. I like to start them in a cold pan and turn the heat up to medium. Keep a close eye on them and stir them/shake the pan regularly, it can take 5-10mins for them to get nice and toasty but they can burn quickly so do be careful and take them off the heat and out of the pan when they are smelling fragrant and a bit lighter in colour than you think they should be, the oils in them keep cooking for a minute or two after you've stopped.
  • Prep the veg and mix together with the nuts in a big bowl.
  • Add your dressing, start with a little bit and mix it in well before adding more so you can control the level of creaminess. Everything should be coated, but not obscured by the dressing, you want to be able to see the colors of the veg still.
  • Serve!
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Region: Europe

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About Beryl

I have been in the film and media industry for the past 12 years and have worked for companies including Great Big Story, ABC, CNN, Martha Stewart, News Corporation, Harper Collins and Fast Company.

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