A show-stopping broccoli slaw full of fresh, healthy flavors and topped with crunchy nut clusters. Perfect to take to a party or barbecue and delight both the health conscious and the gourmet food lovers.
If you’ve been asked to “bring a salad” to a barbecue, backyard party or potluck then this low-carb crunchy broccoli slaw hits the spot AND is quick and easy to prepare.
This slaw recipe is bursting with fresh vegetables that will impress even the most health-conscious host but also your gourmet friends who will be wowed by the satisfying crunch of the sticky nut clusters.
Crunchy Broccoli Slaw is low-carb & ketogenic, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo and vegan!!
As always, this fabulous entertainers salad will be ready to go in less than 30 minutes and makes enough to serve 10 as a side salad.
For a more substantial salad meal, try our Low-Carb Thai Beef Salad.
The inspiration for Crunchy Broccoli Slaw Recipe
I first came across this recipe in Taste Magazine. The original recipe contains brown sugar, cranberries, and apples so I’ve adapted it to be sugar-free and keto friendly.
I tried it out for a big family lunch I was hosting and everyone loved it!
I’m finally sharing it here and I think you will love it too! What’s so great about this broccoli salad is that it is simple to make. The vegetables don’t need to be cooked, though you could steam the broccoli if you don’t like it raw.
I would urge you to try it raw though as once the chopped broccoli gets tossed amongst the cabbage, leafy greens, nut clusters and vinaigrette dressing, it mixes in beautifully.
The addition of the sticky nut clusters really takes this broccoli salad to the next level. They really add the WOW factor. It just takes a few minutes in a frypan to make them.
I substituted erythritol for the brown sugar to create the sweet, sticky texture and it worked perfectly.
No more boring summer salads – try our Crunchy Broccoli Slaw or this quick Cucumber Salad and wow your guests and friends.
How to make Crunchy Broccoli Slaw
- Start by making the crunchy nut clusters. Line a baking tray or large plate with parchment paper.
- Place a frypan over medium heat and add the pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Watch them closely to prevent burning. [image 2]
- After a few minutes, the pepitas will start to brown. Add the slivered almonds and stir for 1 minute. [image 3]
- Add the erythritol, sriracha sauce and stir for a couple of minutes until the erythritol has dissolved and the mixture becomes sticky. [image 4]
- Spoon the sticky mixture into small mounds on the baking tray and leave to cool. They will harden into crispy nut clusters. [images 5-6]
- Prepare the broccoli slaw ingredients – slice the red cabbage finely or shred using a food processor to create thin ribbons. [images 1-2, below]
- Slice the broccoli up into nice, small bite-sized pieces, slice the scallions [image 3, below]
- Place lettuce or leafy greens into a bowl [image 4, below]
- Add shredded cabbage into the bowl [image 5, below]
- Add sliced broccoli and scallions into the bowl [image 6, below]
- Make the dressing – add olive oil, apple cider vinegar and mustard to a small jug or bowl and whisk until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. [images 7-8, below]
- Pour the dressing onto the broccoli slaw and toss well. Top with the crispy clusters. [image 9, below]
Cooking Tips & Tricks for Broccoli Slaw Salad
- Taking broccoli slaw to a party? Prepare the dressing in a jar and add to the salad up to half an hour before serving. Take nut clusters in a separate container to be added when serving.
- If possible, use a food processor to shred the cabbage. You get a nice fine shred and it is very quick.
- For a shortcut – use some pre-shredded slaw
- If substituting for erythritol – use a granular low-carb sweetener to maintain the texture. You could use a erythritol/monk fruit mixture instead and use 1/3 less.
- Sriracha is a chili sauce made from chili, garlic, salt and vinegar. If you don’t have it, you could try hot sauce, chili paste or Tabasco.
- Instead of scallions, use red onion sliced finely.
- Leftovers? This salad is best eaten on the day but leftovers can be kept for a day or so in the fridge.
CAN I MAKE BROCCOLI SLAW IN THE FOOD PROCESSOR?
You can shred the cabbage using a food processor with the shredder attachment and this gives the best results compared to using a knife. Using a food processor for broccoli is risky as it tends to break it down into a mess. The broccoli will hold together better if sliced into small pieces with a sharp knife.
WHAT IS A SCALLION?
Scallions are a type of long thin onion also known as green onions, spring onion, and salad onion. They can be eaten raw or cooked and are often used raw to add flavor to salads.
Peel off the outer green layer, slice off the end with the roots and slice the white end and a little of the green end, avoiding the leafy green part.
There is a lot of confusion around the naming of these types of onions as the terms are used interchangeably by many. People sometimes also refer to the long onions with a large bulb as spring onions, shallot or green onions.
Either the long thin onion (above) or the long, thin onion with bulb works fine in this recipe.
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★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Crunchy Broccoli Slaw
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds raw or blanched
- 1/3 cup granular erythritol sweetener or granular low carb sweetener
- 2 tsp sriracha sauce (sugar free) or hot sauce, chili paste
- 1/3 red cabbage (12 oz or 350g) finely sliced or shredded
- 4 oz leafy greens spinach, kale, lettuce
- 4 oz broccoli florets sliced finely
- 3 scallions sliced (green or spring onions)
Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a baking tray by lining with parchment paper.
- Heat a non-stick frypan over medium heat and toast the pepitas for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- When starting to brown, add the almonds and stir for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle over the erythritol and sriracha sauce and mix for 1-2 minutes until the erythritol is well dissolved and the mixture is sticky.
- Spoon the mixture into little clusters on the baking tray and allow to cool. As they cool, they will harden into crispy clusters.
- Combine the cabbage, leafy greens, broccoli and scallions into a large serving bowl.
For the dressing:
- Add the olive oil, the vinegar and the mustard to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Season to taste.
- Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss well. Top with the crispy clusters.
Notes
- Taking broccoli slaw to a party? Prepare the dressing in a jar and add to the salad up to half an hour before serving. Take nut clusters in a separate container to be added when serving.
- If possible, use a food processor to shred the cabbage. You get a nice fine shred and it is very quick.
- For a shortcut - use some pre-shredded slaw
- Leftovers? This salad is best eaten on the day but leftovers can be kept for a day or so in the fridge.
★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
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Shanna
Yum! Those nut clusters really bring this salad to the next level! I’m liking this new way to “slaw”.
Abbie Brooks
I’m glad you like it! The nut clusters really lift this salad up and they’re easy to make too.
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale
Great tips on how to make this beautiful salad. I know it will be just delicious. This is perfect for a family meal or entertaining.
Abbie Brooks
It’s a great salad for entertaining – I hope you make it!
Caroline
Those little nut clusters look so good, I can imagine them being great in lots of things and bet they add a lovely crunch here.
Abbie Brooks
Yes, they would be great in lots of different salads or even over desserts that need a bit of crunch!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
Love all the colors in the crunch broccli slow!! What a great dish for summer parties. Can’t wait to try this.
Abbie Brooks
I’m sure you’ll love it, Julie 🙂
Beth
Those nut clusters look so yummy! i love having a nice crunch to a salad. Although with all of those fresh veggies, you have a ton of crunch going on here! Lovely!
Abbie Brooks
Glad you like it!
Karly
I like to eat with my eyes and they approve! Love the colors and could probably just snack on those nut clusters all day. Thanks for sharing.
Abbie Brooks
The nut clusters are delicious 🙂