Broccoli Pearl Crunch Salad Recipe

Introduction

Broccoli Pearl Crunch Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining tender-crisp broccoli, nutty pearl couscous, and savory salami with a tangy red wine vinegar dressing. This salad offers a delightful mix of textures and tastes, perfect for a light lunch or a side at dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 medium heads broccoli (about 4 cups chopped small, spoon-eating size)
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup pearl couscous
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 100g (3 oz) salami, chopped into 1 x 1.25 cm pieces (or substitute with bacon)
• 1/3 cup unsalted almonds, chopped into large pieces
• 1 red onion, halved and finely sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey (or substitute with maple syrup or 2 tsp sugar)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan (crumbled feta is also lovely)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Make the dressing by shaking together 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 finely minced garlic clove, 1 tsp lemon zest (optional), 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper in a jar.
2. Step 2: Chop the broccoli into small, spoon scoop-able pieces roughly 1.5 cm long, making the stem parts slightly smaller for easy eating.
3. Step 3: Place 4 cups of the chopped broccoli, including any small “confetti” pieces, into a bowl and toss with 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tablespoons of the dressing. Let it marinate for 30 minutes to soften slightly and mellow the flavor.
4. Step 4: Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook the pearl couscous for 5 minutes, adding dried cranberries for the last 30 seconds to plump them up. Drain well, return to the pan, toss with 2 tablespoons of dressing while still hot, and set aside for 10 minutes to cool and absorb flavor.
5. Step 5: Heat 1 tsp olive oil over medium-high in a large non-stick pan. Add the salami and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes. Add almonds and sliced onion, cook for 2 minutes, then add 2 finely minced garlic cloves and cook for another minute until the salami is golden and the onion softens. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
6. Step 6: Toss the marinated broccoli, cooked couscous, salami mixture, and remaining dressing together. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with finely grated Parmesan before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Substitute salami with crispy bacon for a smokier flavor.
• Use roasted almonds for extra nuttiness or lightly toast them before adding.
• Try crumbled feta instead of Parmesan for a tangier finish.
• For a vegan option, omit salami and Parmesan; add roasted chickpeas for protein.
• Make sure to chop broccoli finely for easier eating and better flavor absorption.

Storage

Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Because of the fresh broccoli and dressing, it’s best enjoyed within this time for optimal texture and flavor. Reheat pearl couscous separately if preferred warm, but the salad is delightful served chilled or at room temperature.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare this salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare the salad a few hours ahead. Marinate the broccoli and cook the couscous in advance, but toss all ingredients together just before serving to maintain freshness and crunch.

What can I substitute for pearl couscous?

If pearl couscous isn’t available, you can use regular couscous, quinoa, or even small pasta shapes like orzo. Cooking times will vary slightly depending on the substitute.

Broccoli Pearl Crunch Salad Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 98 reviews

A vibrant and crunchy Broccoli Pearl Crunch Salad combining tender-crisp marinated broccoli with nutty salami, roasted almonds, sweet cranberries, and pearl couscous, all tossed in a tangy red wine vinegar dressing and topped with Parmesan cheese. Perfect as a flavorful, hearty side or light main dish.

• Author: Stella
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Broccoli and Marinate

• 1 1/2 medium heads broccoli (4 cups chopped small, spoon-eating size)
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 tsp cooking salt or kosher salt
• 2 tbsp Dressing (from dressing ingredients below)

Couscous and Cranberries

• 1 cup pearl couscous
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 2 tbsp Dressing (from dressing ingredients below)

Nutty Salami Mixture

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 100g / 3 oz salami, chopped into 1×1.25 cm pieces (or bacon)
• 1/3 cup almonds, unsalted, natural or roasted, chopped into large pieces
• 1 red onion, halved and finely sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced

Dressing

• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey (or substitute maple syrup or 2 tsp sugar)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
• 1/4 tsp cooking salt or kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Finishing

• 1/4 cup+ Parmesan cheese, finely grated (or crumbled feta)

Instructions

1. Make the Dressing: Combine the red wine vinegar, honey, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, optional lemon zest, salt, and black pepper in a jar. Shake well until thoroughly mixed.
2. Prepare the Broccoli: Chop the broccoli into small, spoon-sized pieces by slicing the florets thinly and further chopping them until pieces are no bigger than 1.5 cm. Make the stem parts smaller for ease of eating.
3. Marinate the Broccoli: Place 4 cups of the chopped broccoli plus all the tiny floret pieces into a bowl. Toss with 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tablespoons of the prepared dressing. Let it sit for 30 minutes to slightly soften and reduce rawness.
4. Cook the Couscous and Cranberries: Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add the pearl couscous and cook for 5 minutes. In the last 30 seconds, add the dried cranberries so they plump up. Drain well and return to the saucepan. While still hot, toss with 2 tablespoons of the dressing. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool and absorb flavors.
5. Sauté Salami, Almonds, Onion, and Garlic: Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped salami and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes to release flavors. Then add almonds and sliced red onion, cooking for 2 minutes until the onion softens. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until the salami is golden and the onion is tender. Remove from heat.
6. Combine and Toss Salad: Add the sautéed salami mixture on top of the marinated broccoli and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then add the cooled couscous mixture along with the remaining dressing. Toss everything together thoroughly to combine flavors.
7. Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, sprinkle generously with finely grated Parmesan cheese (or crumbled feta), and serve immediately.

Notes

• Note 1: Use broccoli stems as well as florets, chopping them into smaller pieces for ideal texture.
• Note 2: Red wine vinegar adds tanginess; adjust quantity based on taste preference.
• Note 3: Pearl couscous (also called Israeli couscous) has a chewy texture that complements the salad well.
• Note 4: Salami adds a savory, meaty flavor; bacon can be substituted if preferred.
• Note 5: Almonds can be raw or roasted, unsalted to maintain balance in flavor and crunch.
• Note 7: Salami won’t crisp fully when sautéed but will become golden and flavorful.

Keywords: broccoli salad, pearl couscous salad, crunchy salad, salami salad, nutty salad, healthy side dish