The rich nutrition and low calorie count of broccoli make it a staple vegetable for healthy diet. This article deals with calories in broccoli salad, along with the list of ingredients used in broccoli salad recipe.
Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables known to us. This green colored, flower head resembles cauliflower and has a unique flavor of its own. It contains large amounts of phytonutrients and sulforaphane, which is a powerful anticancer agent.
Besides these, broccoli contains low calories, and is a reliable source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin D, selenium, lutein and beta-carotene. No wonder, broccoli is consumed as a part of healthy eating all across the globe.
While broccoli is best consumed in raw form, not many people like the raw taste of this green veggie. Simple boiling or cooking broccoli by any method reduces its nutritional value. So, correct preparation of broccoli is necessary to restore optimal nutrients in their natural form.
For increasing its palatability, it can be served as salads with additional ingredients. Here, we will focus on the calories in broccoli salad, which vary with reference to the recipe ingredients. Know more on broccoli nutritional value.
Broccoli Salad Calories
There is no doubt that calorie content in broccoli is quite low, which makes it an excellent veggie for dieters. However, the calorie count in broccoli salad differs according to the ingredients added in the recipe and the serving amount. The more fatty dressing you use, the higher will be the broccoli salad calorie count.
Same is with the salad serving size; larger serving amount provides higher calories and vice versa. Understanding how many calories are present in broccoli salad will make your diet planning a lot easy.
Salad Recipe # 1: Ingredients
Yields 6 Servings
Fresh broccoli, 3 cups
Red onion, chopped, 2 tablespoons
Bacon bits, 2 tablespoons
Golden raisins, ¼ cup
Mayonnaise (fat-free), 8 tablespoons
Granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon
Cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons
Calories You Consume Calories: 71.6 Total fats: 1.2 g Cholesterol: 2.1 mg
Salad Recipe # 2: Ingredients
Yields 14-16 Servings
Fresh broccoli, 4 heads
Bacon bits, ¼ cup
Raisins, ½ cup
Granulated sugar, ¼ cup
Mayonnaise salad dressing (fat-free), 1 cup
Toasted almonds, sliced, ¼ cup
Cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons
Calories You Consume Calories: 112 Total fats: 3.5 g Cholesterol: 4.4 mg
Salad Recipe # 3: Ingredients
Yields 8-10 Servings
Fresh broccoli, 2 heads
Bacon, ½ pound
Red onion, 1 (chopped)
Raisins, ¾ cup
Mayonnaise dressing, 1 cup
Almonds, sliced, ¾ cup
White sugar, ½ cup
White wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons
Calories You Consume Calories: 374 Total fats: 27.2 g Cholesterol: 18 mg
Salad Recipe # 4: Ingredients
Yields 1 Cup Serving
Fresh broccoli, ¼ cup
Fresh cauliflower, ¼ cup
Onion, chopped, 1 tablespoon
Meatless bacon bits, ½ tablespoon
Cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon
Soybean oil mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons
Granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons
Cider vinegar, 1½ teaspoons
Calories You Consume Calories: 443 Total fats: 36.85 g Cholesterol: 34 mg
Salad Recipe # 5: Ingredients
Yields 8-10 Servings
Fresh broccoli, 1 large head
Medium-sized red onion, ½ (chopped)
Turkey bacon, cooked, 1 pound
Mozzarella cheese, shredded, ½ cup
Vinaigrette salad dressing, 2 tablespoons
Walnuts, chopped, ½ cup
Honey mustard, 1 teaspoon
Seasonings
Calories You Consume Calories: 134 Total fats: 8.4 g Cholesterol: 20.9 mg
Salad Recipe # 6: Ingredients
Yields 12 Servings
Fresh broccoli, 3 cups
Cherry tomatoes, 1 cup
Red onion, ½ cup (chopped)
Bacon, 3 1/5 ounces
Raisins, ½ cup
Cheddar cheese, 8 ounces
Mayonnaise, 1 cup
Sugar, ¼ cup
Seasonings
Calories You Consume Calories: 234 Total fats: 15.7 g Cholesterol: 33 mg
Salad Recipe # 7: Ingredients
Yields 8 Servings
Fresh broccoli, 4 cups
Dried cranberries, ¼ cup
Plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons
Almond slivers, 3 tablespoons
Red onion, chopped, ⅓ cup
Light mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons
Mayonnaise, 1 cup
Lemon peel, shredded, ¼ teaspoon
Juice of ¼ lemon
Fresh ginger, ¼ teaspoon
Calories You Consume Calories: 76 Total fats: 3.96 g Cholesterol: 3 mg
Thus, altering the calorie count of broccoli salad depends upon what add-on you used in the salad. In case, you have been advised to cut down on your calorie intake, limit the use of fatty dressing in broccoli salad recipe.
You can use zero calorie vinegar in the recipe for increasing flavor. Adding raisins, almonds and dried vegetables is not a major issue. Of course, they add calories in broccoli salad. But, moderate serving of seeds and nuts is a healthy way to provide essential fatty acids.