This broccoli salad is so easy to make with a flavorful no-mayonnaise dressing, it's sweet and savory with dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, apple, and nutty gruyere cheese. Make this recipe without bacon for your potluck today, everyone is sure to love it!
In a small bowl or jar, combine all of the dressing ingredients except the oil. Slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing. You can also add everything to a jar (including the oil) and shake well until combined.
In a large bowl, add the remaining salad ingredients, then toss with the dressing until completely coated. Serve immediately or place in the fridge until ready to serve (it's great cold and if it has a little bit of time to absorb the dressing).
Notes
Extra Dressing: if you prefer a lot of dressing, I recommend using 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 6 TBSP maple syrup, 1 TBSP + 1 teaspoon Dijon, 2 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons fine sea salt, 1/4 cup shallot, and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder.
The dressing is extra salty on its own because of how it gets absorbed into the raw broccoli. Because the broccoli is uncooked, the salt in the dressing is what is going to bring out its flavor. If you prefer, reduce the salt and add more as you taste test.
*Look for cheese specifically labeled vegetarian, if needed. See post for substitute ideas.