Broccoli salad usually means a bowl of mayonnaise with a few green bits swimming in it.
You know the kind. Heavy, sweet, studded with bacon and raisins.
I made that version for years and quietly got tired of it.
So one summer I went the opposite direction.
No mayo. No bacon. No raisins.
Just crisp raw broccoli tossed with a lemon-oregano dressing, salty feta, chewy sun-dried tomatoes, briny olives, and toasted almonds.
It tastes like a little trip to a Greek taverna, and it comes together faster than the heavy version ever did.
I make it almost every week once the weather warms up.
My wife, who claims she hates raw broccoli, eats it straight from the bowl.
The whole thing takes about 15 minutes and gets better as it sits.
That last part is what sold me.
I can throw it together the night before a cookout and it actually improves in the fridge.
It travels well, it holds up at room temperature, and it never turns into a sad puddle the way mayo salads do.
One bite and you get crunch, tang, and salt all at once. Give it a try and you'll see why it knocked the old version off my table for good.
Why This Greek Broccoli Salad Works
This is the broccoli salad for people who think they don't like broccoli salad. Here's what makes it a keeper.
- No mayo, all flavor. A bright lemon-oregano dressing does the work, so it feels light instead of heavy.
- Ready in 15 minutes. No cooking, no oven, just chop and toss.
- Make-ahead friendly. It holds up in the fridge for days and the flavor only deepens.
- One bowl, real crunch. Raw broccoli stays crisp while the feta and almonds add salt and bite.
Ingredients You'll Need
Everything here is easy to find at any grocery store. Most of it probably lives in your pantry and fridge already.
For the Salad
- Broccoli (1 large head, about 1 ¼ pounds). Cut into small bite-size florets so every forkful soaks up dressing.
- Sun-dried tomatoes (⅓ cup, chopped). I use oil-packed and drain them well. They add a sweet, chewy, tangy pop.
- Red onion (¼ cup, thinly sliced). Soak the slices in ice water for 10 minutes if the raw bite feels too sharp.
- Feta cheese (⅓ cup, crumbled). Go for a block of real feta and crumble it yourself. It tastes worlds better than the pre-crumbled tubs.
- Kalamata olives (¼ cup, pitted and halved). That briny, salty punch is what makes this taste Greek.
- Sliced almonds (¼ cup, lightly toasted). Toasting wakes them up. Pine nuts work too if that's what you have.
For the Lemon-Oregano Dressing
- Extra-virgin olive oil (¼ cup). The base of the whole dressing, so use one you like the taste of.
- Fresh lemon juice (2 tablespoons). Fresh only here. Bottled tastes flat next to it.
- Honey (1 teaspoon). Just a touch to round out the acid.
- Garlic (1 small clove, minced). One clove is plenty since it stays raw.
- Dried oregano (½ teaspoon). The signature Greek note. Crush it between your fingers as it goes in.
- Dijon mustard (½ teaspoon). Helps the dressing emulsify so it clings to the broccoli.
- Salt (¼ teaspoon, plus more to taste). The olives and feta are salty, so taste before adding more.
- Red pepper flakes (a pinch). Optional, for a little background warmth.
- Black pepper (freshly ground, to taste). A few cracks right at the end.
How to Make Greek Broccoli Salad
The trickiest part is chopping the broccoli small. After that it's a whisk-and-toss situation.
Step 1: Whisk the Dressing
Add the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, oregano, Dijon, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper to a small bowl or jar.
Whisk or shake until it looks smooth and emulsified.
Give it a taste and adjust the salt or lemon to your liking.
Step 2: Prep the Broccoli
Cut the broccoli into small, bite-size florets, no bigger than the tip of your thumb.
Smaller pieces grab more dressing and are easier to eat. A few pulses in the food processor works if you're in a hurry.
Step 3: Soak the Onion
If your red onion is sharp, drop the slices in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
This mellows the bite without losing the color or crunch.
Step 4: Toss and Rest
Put the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and onion in a large bowl, then pour the dressing over and toss to coat.
Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the broccoli softens just slightly and drinks up that lemony dressing.
Worth the wait? Every time.
Step 5: Add Feta, Olives, and Almonds
Fold in the feta, olives, and toasted almonds right before serving.
Adding them last keeps the feta from breaking down and the almonds nice and crunchy.
Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad
A few small moves make a big difference here. These are the ones I lean on every time.
- Chop it small. Big florets feel raw and awkward. Small ones soften and soak up flavor.
- Raw is the way. No need to cook the broccoli. If you prefer it tender, blanch for 60 seconds and shock in ice water, but raw keeps the best crunch.
- Tame the onion. That ice-water soak is my favorite trick for sharp red onion. Don't skip it if yours is strong.
- Let it rest. Even 10 minutes lets the dressing work its way in. Overnight is even better.
- Swap the nuts. Pine nuts, walnuts, or sunflower seeds all work. Sunflower seeds keep it nut-free.
- Make it dairy-free. Skip the feta and lean on extra olives for that salty hit, and use maple syrup instead of honey.
Make-Ahead and Storage
This salad is a make-ahead dream. It's one of the few that genuinely tastes better the next day.
- Make-ahead. Toss the broccoli with the dressing up to a day in advance and keep it covered in the fridge.
- Add-ins last. Hold the almonds until serving so they stay crisp, and fold the feta in shortly before too.
- Storage. Leftovers keep in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
- Refresh it. If it looks dry after sitting, a quick squeeze of fresh lemon and a drizzle of olive oil brings it right back.
Got a second head of broccoli? This broccoli au gratin takes care of it.
Serving Suggestions
This salad plays well with almost anything off the grill. I usually serve it as a bright side next to something simple.
- With grilled chicken. A plain lemon-oregano chicken breast and this salad is my go-to weeknight plate.
- Next to salmon. A piece of lemony baked or grilled salmon loves this on the side.
- Alongside souvlaki. Pile it next to pork or chicken skewers with warm pita for an easy Greek spread.
- As a potluck side. It packs and travels beautifully, so it's the dish I bring to summer cookouts.
It is a good cold side next to my spatchcock chicken.
Recipe
Greek Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 large head broccoli about 1 ¼ lb, cut into small bite-size florets
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes oil-packed, drained and chopped
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup Kalamata olives pitted and halved
- ¼ cup sliced almonds lightly toasted
For the Lemon-Oregano Dressing
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 small clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, oregano, Dijon, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified. Taste and adjust the salt or lemon as needed.
Assemble the Salad
- Cut the broccoli into small, bite-size florets. Smaller pieces grab more dressing and are easier to eat.
- If your red onion is sharp, soak the slices in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Add the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and onion to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss to coat. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes so the broccoli softens slightly and absorbs the dressing.
- Fold in the feta, olives, and toasted almonds right before serving so the feta stays intact and the almonds stay crunchy.
Notes
- Chop it small: Small florets soften and soak up dressing better than big ones.
- Raw or blanched: Raw keeps the best crunch, but you can blanch the broccoli for 60 seconds and shock in ice water if you prefer it tender.
- Tame the onion: A 10-minute ice-water soak mellows sharp red onion without losing the crunch.
- Make it dairy-free: Skip the feta, lean on extra olives, and use maple syrup in place of honey.
- Make-ahead: Toss the broccoli with the dressing up to a day ahead. Hold the almonds and feta until serving. Refresh leftovers with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.
