You know, that Amish broccoli and cauliflower salad, it’s the good stuff. My grandma, she used to make it. Well, not exactly like this, but close enough. We didn’t have all them fancy ingredients back then. But this here, this is a good recipe for that salad.
First, you gotta get your veggies. Lots of broccoli and cauliflower. You know the stuff, green and white, looks like little trees. Chop ’em up. Not too big, not too small. Just right so you can get a good bite. I like to cut them up small, like little baby trees.
And that Romanesco stuff, I’ve seen it at the store. Looks like somethin’ from outer space! We just called it fancy cauliflower. It’s all the same to me, all good for eatin’. Some folks call it fractal broccoli or roman cauliflower, that is what I hear. Don’t matter what you call it, just chop it up if you got it. If not, no big deal. That broccoli and cauliflower, they are both good anyway.
Now, some folks, they like to blanch them veggies. That means you dunk ’em in boiling water for a minute, then ice water. Makes ’em bright green. Me? I don’t bother. Waste of time. Just make sure they’re clean. And don’t throw away them leaves and stems! Those are good eatin’ too. Just peel the stems, they can be tough sometimes. Then chop ’em up, good for salads, soups, even pies! Just like kale or cabbage. We never wasted nothin’.
- Broccoli – lots of it, chopped up small.
- Cauliflower – the white kind, chopped up too.
- Romanesco – if you’re feelin’ fancy.
- Leaves and stems – don’t throw them away!
Then you need some other stuff. Bacon. Everyone loves bacon. Fry it up good and crispy. Then crumble it up. That’s what my grandma always did. Bacon makes everything better, I always say.
You need some red onion too. Chop it up fine. Not too much, or it’ll be too strong. Just enough to give it a little bite. Onions are good for you, they say.
Then there’s the dressing. That’s the secret, you know. You gotta have a good dressing. Some folks like it sweet, some like it tangy. I like a little bit of both. You know what I use? Mayonnaise. That’s right, good old mayo. That is the best part of the dressing. I love it.
Then you add a little bit of sugar. Just a spoonful. And some vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is good. Gives it a nice tang. My grandma, she used to make her own vinegar. But it is too much work to do it. I just buy it from the store.
Some folks, they put other stuff in the dressing. Like mustard, or honey. That’s fine, I guess. But I like to keep it simple. Mayo, sugar, vinegar. That’s all you need for a good Amish broccoli salad dressing.
You can put other stuff in the salad too. Like raisins. Or sunflower seeds. Some people put cheese in it. Cheddar cheese is good. My grandma, she used to put cheese in everything. I like the cheese too.
- Bacon – crispy and crumbled.
- Red onion – chopped up fine.
- Mayonnaise – for the dressing.
- Sugar – just a little.
- Vinegar – apple cider is best.
- Raisins – if you like ’em.
- Sunflower seeds – for a little crunch.
- Cheddar cheese – because why not?
Once you got everything chopped up and your dressing made, you just mix it all together. Make sure everything is coated good with the dressing. Then you gotta let it sit. This is important, the most important part.
You gotta let the flavors all mingle together. Put it in the icebox for a few hours. Or overnight. The longer it sits, the better it gets. That’s what my grandma always said. She was right about a lot of things, my grandma. This Amish broccoli salad, it’s even better the next day.
This salad, it’s good for anything. Picnics, potlucks, family dinners. Everyone loves it. Even the picky eaters. My grandkids, they gobble it up. And it’s good for you too. Lots of healthy veggies.
So there you have it. That’s how you make a good Amish broccoli and cauliflower salad. Just like my grandma used to make. Well, almost. She didn’t have all them fancy ingredients. But the important things are the same. Good veggies, good dressing, and lots of love. That’s the secret ingredient. Always has been, always will be.
It is so good, you will want to eat it every day. Try it yourself, you will know what I am talking about. The broccoli and cauliflower are so good together, especially with that dressing. My mouth is watering now, I think I need to make some now.
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