This Broccolini Salad Pairs Fresh Blueberries With Toasted Almonds and Poppy Seeds

Broccolini, blueberries, dried cherries, red onion, and toasted almonds share the same bowl in this salad. The fruit adds sweet bites between the raw greens, while the almonds bring crunch against the broccolini stalks.

An orange poppy seed dressing ties the mix together. Greek yogurt gives the dressing its creamy base, with orange juice, honey, vinegar, and poppy seeds adding sweet and tart notes.

Broccolini Stays Raw for More Crunch

Broccolini has smaller florets and long, thin stems compared with standard broccoli. For this salad, there is no blanching or roasting step. Trim any tough ends, then cut the stalks and florets into pieces about one inch long.

Keeping the broccolini raw gives the salad a firm base that can stand up to the dressing. Red onion gets diced and mixed through the greens for another sharp bite.

Blueberries and Dried Cherries Go Into the Same Bowl

Fresh blueberries go in whole, while dried cherries bring a second fruit texture. Each works against the broccolini in a different way: blueberries burst when bitten, while the dried fruit stays chewy.

That mix makes the salad more than chopped greens with dressing. Each serving can pick up broccolini, berries, onion, and nuts in the same forkful.

Toast the Almonds Before Adding Them

Almonds get a short trip through a skillet before they reach the salad bowl. Once toasted and cooled, chop them into rough pieces and scatter them through the broccolini mixture.

The nuts add another level of crunch without competing with the fruit. Broccolini stays firm, almonds snap, and dried cherries add chew.

Poppy Seeds Go Into the Orange Yogurt Dressing

The dressing brings a creamy element to a salad built around raw ingredients. Greek yogurt forms the base, while orange and poppy seeds connect the dressing to the blueberries and cherries.

Whisk the dressing first, then pour it over the broccolini, fruit, onion, and toasted almonds. Toss until the chopped pieces have a thin coating rather than letting the dressing collect at the bottom of the bowl.

Serve the Salad the Same Day

Once dressed, the broccolini begins to lose some of the firm texture that makes the combination work. The salad is best served on the day it is assembled rather than left in the refrigerator for several days.

Regular broccoli can take the place of broccolini, and dried cranberries can replace the cherries. The core combination stays the same: raw broccoli stems and florets, fresh berries, dried fruit, toasted nuts, and a creamy poppy seed dressing.