AMISH BROCCOLI SALAD

AMISH BROCCOLI SALAD

This delightful salad with my own tweaks lends itself to some wonderful ideas for variations, so be sure to check them out at the bottom of the recipe! This recipe will definitely feed a crowd.  The Smoked Gouda lends an amazing flavor to the salad and would be especially great served at a barbecue.  The original recipe called for 1/2 cup of sugar.  Feel free to reduce the sweetener to taste, leave it out, or use your own preferred sweetener.

Note:  If you prefer, you can blanch the vegetables in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes to take the edge off the crunchiness (especially for the cauliflower (that's why I suggest cutting it real small).  Then drain the vegetables well in a colander over a bowl.

1 lb chopped broccoli (0.45 kg)

1 lb chopped cauliflower (0.45 kg)

  (chopped into very small chunks)

¹/₂  lb bacon, fried and crumbled (0.2 kg)

  (about 7 slices)

2 cups grated Smoked Gouda, OR (500 mL)

  Cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup mayonnaise (250 mL)

1 cup sour cream (250 mL)

Liquid sweetener (sucralose or stevia) NO CARB sweetener (125 mL)  OPTIONAL!!
  to equal ¹/₂  cup sugar sweetness 
  (this is optional...but the sweet taste is popular in this)

¹/₂  tsp salt, OR to taste (2 mL)

In large salad bowl or trifle bowl, combine broccoli, cauliflower, bacon and 1¹/₂  cups (375 mL) Smoked Gouda or Cheddar cheese.  In medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, liquid sweetener and salt.  Stir the creamy mixture into the broccoli salad.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.  Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap and chill before serving.

Variations:  Leave out the cauliflower and use only broccoli.  Add some chopped or sliced red onions.  Replace the cauliflower with diced cooked chicken.  Maybe add in some chopped, hard boiled eggs.  Add one small apple chopped finely or some jicama or chayote squash - the last two are great for added crunch!

Yield:  12 servings

1 serving

302.9 calories

25.7 g protein

25.7 g fat

1.6 g fiber

4.1 g net carbs