Description

This Amish Broccoli Salad with Cauliflower, Turkey Bacon & Raisins is a delightful blend of fresh vegetables, crispy turkey bacon, and a creamy, tangy dressing. Perfect for gatherings or a refreshing side dish, this salad combines crunchy broccoli and cauliflower florets with the sweetness of raisins and the saltiness of sunflower seeds and bacon, all brought together with a luscious mayo and sour cream dressing.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

1/2 pound turkey bacon, chopped and cooked crisp
4 cups broccoli florets
4 cups cauliflower florets
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
3/4 cup raisins (golden preferred)
1/3 cup salted sunflower seeds
1 cup cheese crumbles

Dressing Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

Cook Turkey Bacon: In a heavy bottom pan over medium heat, cook the turkey bacon until it is crisp. Optionally, reserve some of the rendered bacon fat for added flavor in the dressing.
Prepare Vegetables: Chop broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Dice the red onion finely.
Combine Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, sunflower seeds, and raisins.
Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, salt, vinegar, mayonnaise, and sour cream until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Add Bacon Fat to Dressing (Optional): If you reserved turkey bacon fat, add it to the dressing mixture and whisk thoroughly to incorporate.
Add Bacon to Salad: Add the crisp cooked turkey bacon pieces to the vegetable mixture and toss everything to combine evenly.
Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and stir gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill Before Serving: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld before serving for optimal taste.

Notes

For best texture, chop vegetables into uniform bite-sized pieces.
Golden raisins provide a sweeter flavor and appealing color but regular raisins can be used as well.
The reserved turkey bacon fat is optional but adds a smoky depth to the dressing.
This salad is best enjoyed chilled and can be made a day in advance.
Sunflower seeds add a lovely crunch and nutty flavor, feel free to substitute with chopped nuts if preferred.