Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds
Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds is amazing with the fried almonds adding crunch and the Feta adding tangy flavor. Please, DO NOT skip the fried almonds in this amazing salad with broccoli!
PIN Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds to make it later!
For this week’s Friday Favorites pick I’m reminding you about this Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds that’s a huge hit in my family. It was years ago that I first made it for a family party and everyone at the party went crazy over this simple salad with big flavors.
And after I’d made it for another party and then once more just for myself, I made the salad and snapped some better pictures, and then recently I added a video to this recipe, so I hope the family recommendation, newer photos, and video will convince you to try it!
I love everything about the combination of flavors here, including the very garlicky dressing, but please, please, please do not skip the fried almonds. And if you wanted to use a bit more Feta that certainly wouldn’t hurt either.
I’m not one of those people who minds raw broccoli in a salad, but in this recipe I thought blanching the broccoli cooked it just enough so it worked perfectly with the red wine vinegar dressing, Feta, and fried almonds. Are you getting the message that you MUST make this salad!
What ingredients do you need?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- salt, I used Kosher Salt (affiliate link)
- broccoli crowns
- large clove of garlic
- Red Wine Vinegar (affiliate link)
- pinch hot pepper flakes, I used Aleppo Pepper (affiliate link)
- extra-virgin Olive Oil (affiliate link)
- Slivered Almonds (affiliate link)
- crumbled Feta cheese
What makes this Broccoli Salad so special?
Three things make this broccoli salad just over-the-top good. The garlicky dressing with red wine vinegar is amazing on the broccoli. The fried almonds add the perfect crunch and pop of flavor. And the combination of Feta cheese with garlicky broccoli is amazing!
Do you have to blanch the broccoli?
In this recipe the broccoli is barely blanched (for three minutes), but I do think that very slight cooking makes the broccoli so the dressing flavors it more than it would if the broccoli was raw. And the slight cooking tames down the broccoli for those who don’t enjoy raw broccoli in a salad.
How low in carbs is the Broccoli Salad with Feta?
This amazing salad with broccoli only has about 7 net carbs per serving!
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Trim broccoli into same-size flowerets; then blanch for exactly 3 minutes in boiling water and dump into colander to drain.
- Mash together the garlic and salt, then add red wine vinegar and hot pepper flakes and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a frying pan, add almonds and fry until the almonds are golden brown. (Watch them carefully.)
- Drain the fried almonds on paper towels.
- Crumble enough Feta to make 1/2 cup. (Or use more if you’d like; more Feta is always good, right?)
- Whisk the olive oil into the vinegar-garlic mixture to make the dressing.
- Stir together the broccoli, feta, and half the almonds and toss with the dressing.
- Serve salad right away, sprinkling the rest of the almonds on top.
Make it a Low-Carb Meal:
This amazing Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds would be a great side dish for Air Fryer Salmon, Greek Lemon Chicken, Chicken Cutlets with Mustard Sauce, Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken, or Baked Greek Meatballs for a low-carb meal.
More Tasty Recipes with Broccoli:
- Roasted Broccoli with Soy Sauce and Sesame Seeds
- Broccoli Gratin
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Curry Casserole
Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds
Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds is an amazing combination of flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. + 1/4 tsp. salt (I used kosher salt)
- 1 lb. broccoli crowns, trimmed and cut into same-size florets
- 1 large clove of garlic
- 2 T red wine vinegar
- generous pinch hot pepper flakes (I used Aleppo pepper; see note.)
- 5 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
Instructions
- Fill a medium-sized pot with water, add 1 tsp. salt, and bring to a boil. While the water is heating, trim the broccoli crowns and cut into bite-sized flowerets. (Make them all the same size so they will cook the same amount.)
- When water is boiling, add the broccoli, cook for exactly 3 minutes, then drain broccoli into a colander placed in the sink and let it cool.
- Mash the garlic with 1/4 tsp. salt. (I used a Mortar and Pestle (affiliate link), but you can use anything that will smash up the garlic.)
- Mix in the hot pepper flakes and red wine vinegar and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 T of olive oil in a heavy frying pan, add the almonds, and fry until they are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes. (Watch carefully because they can go from lightly browned to burned rather quickly.)
- Put the almonds on a plate covered with a paper towel and let almonds cool a few minutes. (You can salt them if you want, but I thought the salad was salty enough with the Feta.)
- After 10 minutes, whisk the remaining 4 T of olive oil into the vinegar-garlic mixture.
- Combine the broccoli, Feta, and half the almonds in a bowl; then toss with the dressing to coat.
- Serve salad right away, with remaining almonds sprinkled over the top.
Notes
I loveย Aleppo Pepper (affiliate link) for any recipe where you want a little spicy pepper flavor, but any red pepper flakes will work.
This recipe found in Fine Cooking Annual Volume 2; I adapted it just a little from the version that Tasha DeSerio created for Fine Cooking.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 313Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 21gCholesterol 17mgSodium 366mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 5gSugar 3gProtein 8g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Broccoli, Feta cheese, and almonds are all great low choices for low-carb and Keto eating plans, and this Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds would also be good for any phase of the South Beach Diet if you use portion control on the Feta.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Salad Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalynโs Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes Iโm sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This delicious broccoli salad with Feta was first posted in 2011. The recipe was last updated in 2024.
61 Comments on “Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds”
This is a really cool recipe! I’ve been struggling to find ways to cook up a whole bunch of broccoli in one go and I think I just found my answer. One problem, I have a hard time finding slivered almonds in my area. Can I roughly chop almonds instead?
So glad you like the recipe; this is a big favorite in my family. I buy slivered almonds from Amazon and keep them in the freezer, but you can definitely use chopped almonds too.
Have you ever prepared this a day in advance?
No, but honestly I don’t think it will be that good made ahead.
I just read this Recipe and I must say so tasty.
Glad you like it.
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This looks SO good! And I don’t always say that about broccoli ๐ Definitely saving this!
Thanks Karly; hope you enjoy!
Making broccoli prepared this way tomorrow, as a side dish to fresh grilled fish from the Adriatic, can’t wait to taste it ๐
Hope you enjoy! That sounds like a lovely dinner to me!
This looks delicious Kalyn! I’m always looking for new ways to cook broccoli and I find feta makes just about everything better!
Thanks Kim! Glad you like it. Hope you are doing well!
it looks healthy and delicious. thank you so much. i will try it.
Hope you enjoy!
I could eat this with every meal, I’m loving the feta and almonds!!
Thank you for linking to my broccoli slaw recipe! xo
Aggie, my pleasure! Glad you like the recipe.
I love this recipe. My son likes his broccoli crisp tender (so do i) I can’t wait to try out this technique
Thanks Kristen, so glad you like it!
Made this as a side for dinner last night. Yum! I'm eating the leftovers now, mixed with fresh baby spinach and kale for a delicious lunch. I think I like it even better cold. Thanks!
Thanks; so glad you enjoyed it!
I love it that people are re-discovering this recipe because it is completely a winner!
Oh, i am so in love with this recipe! I can't believe I've never seen it before… Not a raw brocoli fan, but love it cooked. This is just perfect.
I could live off salads like this. So delicious!!
My CSA has given me broccoli for two weeks in a row. I've been roasting it, but this gives me another great option!
Katharine, so glad it was a hit with your family!
I served this tonight for my extended family gathering. It was wonderful!!! My sister even asked me for the recipe. I will definitely make this again. It was so easy and delicious!
Yaay, so glad it was a hit!
Dear Kalyn, I made this delicious salad for lunch today. My extremely picky toddler gobbled it down in 5 seconds asking for more. I also added lemon herb wild rice and chicken marinated using your savory marinade recipe. Thank you so very much!
You can definitely omit the almonds if you choose to, but I can't honestly say it would taste as good because the fried almonds are fantastic in this recipe. Maybe use less almonds?
Do you think I could omit the almonds? Would it taste just as good??
Jenn, that is great to hear. So glad you liked it!
My Mom made this (at my request) for Thanksgiving. It was DELICIOUS! My whole family loved it, even my sister-in-law, who isn't too fond of broccoli. We will definitely be making this recipe again and again – thank you!!
Bonnie Happy Thanksgiving to you too, and so glad you have been enjoying this!
Love love love this dish. It's become my favorite salad and favorite broccoli dish. I can't get enough of it. Thanks for your great blog and recipes. Keep up the good work and Happy Thanksgiving.
This broccoli salad looks amazing! Even raw…why not, right? Ha.
Now its off to see if my wife, "The Hungry Wife," would be as so kind as to try this version. =P
Check out her broccoli salad recipe for a more southern, classic spin on broccoli salad. It's very delicious as well.
Thanks!
Jeanette, I agree that barely cooked broccoli is best. I've toasted almonds in a dry pan too, but frying them really did make them so flavorful.
I hate overcooked broccoli and either steam it or blanch it like you do. Would love to try it with some feta and some toasted almonds. I just toast them on the stove, no oil needed, just watch carefully.
I like the idea of baking the almonds. And cranberries would be great in this!
This looks delicious! I never fry almonds, instead I just bake them lightly. I will be making this soon for dinner and maybe I might add in a few dried cranberries too.
So glad you like it. We thought it was both nutritious *and* delicious!
Fantastic! I love broccoli or cauliflower with nut kernels!
The more non-processed they are the higher the vitamin content!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Curt. Frying the almonds is really a trick I'm going to remember.
Man o man does that look good. I like that the broccoli is barely blanched. I like a little crunch left in broccoli.
And the fried almonds! That puts it right over the top!
Nisrine, you are so sweet. I think we just have the same taste, because all your food looks good to me too.
I don't eat broccoli as much as I should but this is a very encouraging recipe for it. I Think I would actually love it. You are always so good at choosing the right ingredients, Kalyn.
I can't take credit for the idea of blanching the broccoli, but I did think it worked perfectly in this recipe!
Yum! I love feta and love broccoli and the amounts you combined are so visually pleasing as well as delicious. Blanching was a great idea too, thanks!
Thanks Maria. The fried almonds were so good.
Dara, I don't think I'd ever get tired of it either!
This salad seems to have it all – the fresh taste from the broccoli, a little crunch and nuttiness from the almonds and creaminess from the feta. I could eat this for days!
I bet the almonds add a nice crunch. Great salad!
I love the sound of broccoli pesto!
Lauren, me too. One of my favorite snacks in the world is raw broccoli dipped in low-fat ranch dip!
Deborah, thanks! This was really quite light and very tasty!
This sounds like a delicious recipe that wouldn't be too heavy. I like broccoli in any form, and I want a big scoop of this!
I <3 broccoli, in all states of doneness. This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing it.
Lydia, I once made a broccoli pesto – I think it's from 101 Cookbooks – and it also used a barely blanched broccoli. Amazing what it does to the veggie, and those of us anti-crudites (like me!) definitely appreciate the change
I am sure I would love this salad with feta and all – perfect for a light lunch
David, they were delicious in this. Such a simple idea but it really bumped up the flavor.
I just want to eat handfuls of those fried almonds! : )
Lydia and Joanne, so glad this appeals to you guys. I thought blanching the broccoli really helped it work with the Feta here.
I'm not one of those people who loves raw broccoli, so I love the idea of blanching it first. Also, when it's warm it will absorb a little bit of the dressing. I'm always looking for more green dishes to add to my holiday menu.
I love broccoli but not so much raw…which means this salad is perfect for my T-Day table!