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Broccoli Slaw

brocolli slaw

I’ve never been a big fan of broccoli. I’ve discovered that it’s one of those vegetables that is best eaten when it’s as fresh as possible. Once it sits around for a few days it starts to smell like a stinky pair of Converse sneakers…that’s not a good odor for a vegetable. I’ve also discovered that this transformation occurs despite refrigeration, thorough storage solutions, and elegant cooking techniques. Yes, I know those odors can be masked with either bacon, garlic, or cheese, but I just don’t really care for cooked broccoli. Then there’s the texture. A large, raw floret of broccoli in my mouth feels like dirt. That’s not very appetizing either is it?

But yesterday I was playing with food in my head. I had three heads of broccoli that I needed to use and all I really wanted was more cole slaw. Cole slaw is made with cabbage, which is a cruciferous vegetable and broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable too, so I decided to make broccoli slaw.

brocolli slaw

Using my mandoline I shredded the broccoli into tiny florets and thin strips of stalk. I also had a kohlrabi so I peeled that and shredded it too. I ran 1/2 a red onion through the mandoline and tossed it all together. I toasted 1/2 cup of pine nuts and let them cool. In the food processor I combined 1/4 of a white onion, 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/3 cup of canola oil, 3 cloves of garlic, and salt and pepper (and maybe some honey if your vinegar isn’t as sweet as mine). I let that rip until it was all pulverized and nice and smooth and then I tossed the broccoli with it, added the pine nuts and let it sit in the refrigerator for 3 hours until dinner time.

It was another incredible batch of slaw. I loved it! The garlic and onion gave it a heady, almost spicy flavor, the sweetness of the dressing played with the pine nuts and the broccoli. I think I’m the queen of slaw. I’m hoping for some broccoli in today’s CSA box so I can make some more. I’m now a broccoli lover. I couldn’t stop eating it and I actually hated having to share it with Dave.

July 10, 2008 | Filed Under Slaw, food, quick and easy, recipe 

comments

17 Responses to “Broccoli Slaw”

  1. rudibrarian on July 10th, 2008

    Not only does this sound wonderful enough to make me completely reconsider “slaw” as a category of edibles, but I’d bet a drop or 3 of toasted sesame oil would be amazing in this.

  2. MadLisa on July 10th, 2008

    Well, given what showed up in the box today, I’ll probably be eating this slaw for the next 4 days! I have all the ingredients. Thanks for doing the work Vanessa….

  3. Susan on July 10th, 2008

    I guess I’ve lived without a mandoline long enough….I have to try that broccoli slaw. It looks delish! Off to the kitchen store…

  4. Lisa on July 10th, 2008

    I like broccoli okay but am not usually a big fan of slaw. But this one looks different. So pretty and not bogged down with creamy dressing! Yes, I think this slaw is worth a try.

  5. [eatingclub] vancouver || js on July 10th, 2008

    Looks and sounds delicious! I’ve been thinking of different ways to prepare broccoli and yours look a winner. I’m getting tired of boiled broccoli.

    Thanks for sharing. Bookmarking this to make real soon.

  6. Niamh on July 11th, 2008

    Oh – this looks delicious!

  7. Helen on July 11th, 2008

    mmm, kohlrabi is one of my all-time favourite slaw ingredients and I really like the sound of using broccoli in there too. I get so bored of broccoli sometimes, I had to remove it from my veg box as I couldn’t bear the thought of finding it there again! This could change my mind though, I’m willing to give it a go!

  8. Donna on July 11th, 2008

    Well hello Queen of Slaw! You’ve got ME convinced. I can’t wait to try it.

  9. GirlCanBake on July 11th, 2008

    I absolutely LOVE the look of this dish! I think the pine nuts really take it over the top to me. So healthy and light! Thank you so much for the inspiration!

  10. Paula on July 11th, 2008

    Love the idea of a broccoli slaw … especially one with toasted pine nuts. Great idea and great recipe!

  11. Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy on July 13th, 2008

    I love broccoli slaw! Yours looks really lovely too! Nice and light. I have to confess, I buy mine already shredded in a bag at the market. If I tried to shred it myself, I’d have no knuckles left!

  12. Kalyn on July 13th, 2008

    Sounds perfect to me. Of course I love broccoli and love slaw so it’s a no-brainer for me.

  13. lo (Burp! Where Food Happens) on July 14th, 2008

    Looks like we’ve both had broccoli on the brain this week. Seems the Wisconsin summer has been perfect for broccoli — as its in the markets much later than usual this summer.

    We’ve had lots of broccoli coming to us via our CSA share, so this is another great idea to help use it up… and lend some variety. Who needs Brocco-slaw anyhow??!!

  14. Salad days : What geeks eat… on July 15th, 2008

    [...] Broccoli Slaw [...]

  15. Susan on July 16th, 2008

    I bought the mandoline. Got broccoli at the farm market, Made the slaw. Oh…was it good!! Thanks for such good ideas. I also did your strawberry pie with tart cherries! Yum!

  16. Ashley on August 7th, 2008

    Ooo yum this looks good and different! I’ve seen coleslaw recipes around food blogs recently but lots use mayonnaise, which I try not to eat too much of.

  17. Rachell on February 18th, 2009

    I made this at work today. Thanks for the great recipe. Hope you don’t mind, I took photos and posted them here on my Flickr,

    http://flickr.com/photos/rachell/3291509393/

    and here on my blog,

    http://madcake.blogspot.com/2009/02/broccoli-slaw-and-little-blood.html

    Thanks again!

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