Bang Bang Broccoli Salad

Our Bang Bang Broccoli Salad uses a classic, delicious sauce as a dressing that will get you excited about eating your vegetables. Vitamin C–packed broccoli is mixed with antioxidant-rich red cabbage, carrots and scallions, edamame for protein, and cashews for crunch. Our bang bang sauce is made up of creamy mayo, sweet chili sauce, zesty lime and Sriracha for a kick! The combo of crunchy and creamy is a delight—a wickedly delicious salad for any meal or to make ahead for a potluck. Keep reading for our expert tips on time-saving ingredients, smart ways to add more protein and more.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• To save time on prepping vegetables, consider buying precut broccoli florets and matchstick carrots.
• Transform this salad into a complete meal by adding grilled shrimp or thin slices of grilled chicken, steak or tofu.
• You can use a mixture of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise to add extra protein to the salad. And feel free to add more or less of the Sriracha to taste.
• Whip up a double batch of the sauce. It will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator and can be drizzled over roasted vegetables or enjoyed as a dip or sandwich spread.

Nutrition Notes

• Broccoli has sulfur-containing compounds that are known for their role in cancer prevention, which also give it a slightly bitter taste. Also, when you eat fresh broccoli, rather than cooked, you’ll get more vitamin C, which can help lower inflammation.
• All cabbage is nutritious, but red cabbage does have an edge over green cabbage in one nutrient. Red cabbage contains antioxidants called anthocyanins, which give it its purple/red color. Just like the broccoli, you’ll get more nutrients from the raw cabbage. 
• Edamame is a complete plant-based protein, which means it contains all of the same essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) as animal protein. It is an excellent source of iron and potassium—excellent for heart health. 
• Carrots are a great source of beta carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A and contributes to overall immune health. You also get digestive health and anti-inflammatory benefits from eating carrots.