Broccoli is, in many cases, a highly underappreciated vegetable. Like cauliflower, it is often simply boiled and served. Fortunately, people are experimenting more with broccoli and often use it in a salad nowadays.
So, if you have spare broccoli and want to make a broccoli salad, you might be wondering what entree to serve the broccoli salad with. Well, we’ve asked the foodies, and this was their response.
The entrees that go with broccoli salad are endless. For this reason, broccoli salad has become such a famous potluck and thanksgiving side dish.
So if you’re looking for recipes to serve with your broccoli salad, look no further! This article breaks down the best entrees to serve with broccoli salad and different broccoli salad recipes to try.
Entrees To Serve With Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is a refreshing and crisp side dish that accompanies a variety of proteins and other dishes. However, choosing which entree to serve with broccoli salad can sometimes be challenging.
We have created a list of the proteins to serve with your broccoli salad as a start. These are some proteins that work well with broccoli salad.
1. Seafood Entrees To Serve With Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad pairs great with seafood. Depending on the flavor profile of your broccoli salad, you can serve it with an entree of salmon, cod, sole, or even prawns.
For example, suppose your broccoli salad recipe calls for lemon juice or other acidic additives. In that case, it will pair great with an entree of sole or cod.
However, if your broccoli recipe uses a lot of sweet elements, such as soy sauce, honey, or brown sugar, the perfect entree to this broccoli salad would be salmon, prawns, or trout.
Here are some mouth-watering seafood entree recipes to serve with broccoli salad:
- Grilled Prawn Skewers with Broccoli salad
- Baked Salmon Fillet with Broccoli Salad
- Baked Cod with Broccoli Salad
2. Pork Entrees To Serve With Broccoli Salad
Because many broccoli salad recipes call for the addition of bacon, one can safely assume that broccoli salad will pair well with other pork entrees. Broccoli salad with salty ingredients, such as feta cheese and back, will pair great with an entree of baked pork chops.
You can add some fresh, crunchy vegetables to the broccoli salad to balance the fattiness of the pork. Or, you can add some mayonnaise and raisins to create a “coleslaw” type broccoli salad with a baked pork chop. In truth, any combination of pork and broccoli salad is a match made in heaven.
Here are some pork entree recipes worth trying next time you make broccoli salad.
- Baked Pork Chops with Broccoli Salad
- Orange Roast Pork with roasted Broccoli Salad
- Goan-style Pork Loin with Broccoli Salad
3. Beef Entrees To Serve With Broccoli Salad
Roasted beef is salty and meaty. But it can sometimes dry out if cooked too long or left open. However, this problem can easily be remedied by pairing the beef entree with a delicious broccoli salad. Ensure the broccoli salad has enough sauce to compliment the roast beef, and you have a top-quality meal awaiting.
Creamy elements, such as feta, can be added to the broccoli salad to further enhance the meal’s flavor. Avoid adding too many salty ingredients to the broccoli salad if your roasted beef is already salt-laden.
Here are some beef entrees to pair with broccoli salad.
- Roast Beef with Broccoli Salad and Horseradish dressing
- Hot Gingered beef with Broccoli Salad
- Thai Beef with Broccoli Salad
4. Chicken Entrees To Serve With Broccoli Salad
Chicken is a versatile protein and can be used with any flavor combination. Grilled chicken fillets are a great entree with a fresh broccoli salad. A creamy chicken Alfredo pasta will also pair well with broccoli salad, as the salad can help balance some of the richness of the pasta.
Depending on the flavors and spices used for the chicken, you can add various ingredients to the broccoli salad. For example, corn, green pepper, and cheese work well when added to a broccoli salad and served with a chicken entree.
Here are some must-try chicken entree recipes to serve with a broccoli salad.
- Crispy Chicken with Broccoli Salad
- Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli Salad
- Siracha glazed Chicken Burger with Broccoli Salad
5. Vegetarian Entrees To Serve With Broccoli Salad
A crunchy, fresh broccoli salad will pair exceptionally well with a vegetarian meal, such as lentil burgers or vegetarian meatloaf.
The crisp vegetables used in the broccoli salad add plenty of texture to a vegetarian meal. As vegetarian meat substitutes can sometimes lack texture, the broccoli salad is a welcome addition.
Use fresh herbs, such as dill and parsley, and sauces, such as mustard, olive oil, and vegan mayonnaise to create the perfect broccoli salad to pair with a vegetarian entree. Spicey ingredients like chili and pepper will add another flavor element to your broccoli salad.
Here are some great vegetarian entrees that go with a broccoli salad.
- Vegetarian Meatloaf with Broccoli Salad
- Lentil Burgers with Broccoli Salad
- Vegetable Pasta Bake with Broccoli Salad
Tips For Making The Perfect Broccoli Salad
Now that we’ve discussed some great entrees to serve with a broccoli salad, we can also discuss some tips for making the best broccoli salad. Whether you serve your broccoli salad warm or cold, these are some tips you should follow:
- Always use fresh broccoli for broccoli salad. The older broccoli gets, the mushier it becomes. So you want fresh, crispy broccoli for making a salad.
- Wash the broccoli before making a salad. Dirt and pesticides cling to a broccoli head and should be washed off before making the salad.
- Don’t overcook the broccoli. If you’re making a roasted broccoli salad, or prefer using blanched broccoli, don’t overcook it. The broccoli should still be crunchy.
- Serve broccoli salad chilled. Unless your salad is meant to be warm, chill the broccoli salad before serving. This will help the flavors to develop and ensure your salad is crunchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve researched some frequently asked questions regarding broccoli salad and decided to include them in this post to save you from spending more time on the internet. So, these are some frequently asked questions about broccoli salad.
1. How Long Does Broccoli Salad Keep In The Fridge?
Broccoli salad can keep for about two days in the fridge. However, it’s best served within one day. You can make a broccoli salad the night before serving it. Be sure to keep it chilled.
2. How Do You Cut Broccoli For A Broccoli Salad?
The best way to prepare broccoli for making broccoli salad is to cut the head into florets. While you can use some of the softer stems in the salad, the bottom part of a broccoli head is hard and fibrous. Cutting the broccoli into florets is an easy way to prepare it, and looks nice when served.
Conclusion
Broccoli salad is a great side dish to serve with many entrees. It pairs well with seafood, pork, beef, chicken, and vegetarian dishes. Depending on the flavors you add to the broccoli salad, you can create a wonderful meal when pairing it with the right entree.
Broccoli salad can be served hot or cold, but you should always prepare the broccoli correctly by washing it and cutting the broccoli into florets.
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