This Broccoli Grape Salad with Feta combines great flavors to create a make-ahead, super wholesome summer side dish.
This post was sponsored by Nikos® Feta.
On our recent trip to wine country, we stopped in at a little grocery store in Healdsburg called Big John’s Market. It is THE most awesome grocery store ever…ever…ever, and I’m gonna tell you why.
If you’ve ever spent any time in Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg, etc., you know that the bed and breakfast inns typically serve bountiful, gourmet breakfasts, set out wine and appetizers later in the day, and, for dinner, the choices are ridiculous. We’ve eaten some of the best meals of our lives at restaurants in wine country. So, during the day while wine tasting we don’t feel the need to sit down for a heavy meal and instead we love to stop in at the deli at Big John’s. This is not your typical grocery store deli. They make amazing sandwiches to order and have (and this is no joke) about 20 or more different sides yo choose from. I stood staring at the shelves full of little plastic containers all stacked neatly, containing a huge variety of rice dishes, pasta salads, veggie salads, and all kinds of other deliciousness until I finally made my choice.
One of the items I chose was a broccoli salad with grapes and feta. I’ve made my own version of Broccoli Salad countless times, but this was different. And, it was very, very good! So, of course, I had to come home and make it for ya.
The ingredient list is simple and includes fresh broccoli, seedless red grapes, diced red onion, sunflower seeds, and for a tangy, robust, flavor punch – Nikos® Crumbled Feta Cheese.
I love using a zesty cheese like feta in my recipes. Just a little bit adds big flavor and that yummy, salty bite that we all crave, keeping your healthier recipes a wonderful, wholesome choice. Try sprinkling a little on your scrambled eggs in the morning, add huge flavor to your roasted veggies, and if you really want to knock your mac and cheese out of the ballpark – trying adding a little crumbled feta. These convenient crumble cups from Niko’s are great to keep on hand to add to all of your feta-friendly recipes. The full line of high-quality Mediterranean-style feta cheeses from Niko’s are certified Halal and made with rBGH-free milk.
In addition to making amazing feta cheese, Niko’s is giving away a trip to Hawaii! Scroll to the bottom of this post for more information on how to enter.
But first, let’s get in the kitchen!
Combine about 5 to 6 cups of fresh, roughly chopped broccoli florets in a large mixing bowl with 2 cups of seedless red grapes and about 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion.
The dressing is simple and the same that I use for my original version of Broccoli Salad – some mayo, sour cream, a little white wine vinegar, and some sugar to sweeten it up a bit. I think this dressing is fab made with light mayo and light sour cream and since I’m not feeling the need for those extra fat grams at the moment, that is what I used here. Use what you prefer.
After you mix in the dressing, cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for several hours or longer. You could even make this the evening before and let it chill overnight. The broccoli will soften, just a touch, but still be very fresh and crunchy which is how I like it for this salad.
Just before you’re ready to serve it, stir in 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese.
And, 1/4 cup roasted, salted sesame seeds.
Garnish the salad with additional feta and sesame seeds and you are ready to serve.
Nikos® Feta is hosting a giveaway this June/July! One lucky contestant will win a seven-day, six-night trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, during the 2015 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (August 29 – September 13, 2015).
Trip package includes:
- Roundtrip airfare for Grand Prize Winner and Guest from the airport nearest the Grand Prize Winner’s residence to Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Standard hotel accommodations for 6 nights/7 days (double room occupancy).
- $500 USD in spending money for the Grand Prize Winner (the “Trip Package”).
The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of the Grand Prize is $3,500.
To enter, visit www.nikosfeta.com or the “Hawaii Trip” tab on Niko’s Facebook page (desktop only) between June 1 – July 31, 2015, and fill out the entry form. That’s it! Easy, peasy! Full contest information is available in the Official Rules accessible via either site starting June 1st.
Aloha and best of luck to you all!
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Broccoli Grape Salad with Feta
Ingredients
- 2 or 3 crowns of fresh broccoli cut into bite-size pieces (approximately 5 to 6 cups)
- 2 cups red grapes halved if large
- 1/3 cup red onion chopped
- 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup light sour cream
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1/3 cup Nikos® Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese plus additional as desired
- 1/4 cup roasted salted sunflower seeds (slivered almonds work well too!)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, grapes, and onion.
- In a small bowl, stir together the light mayonnaise, light sour cream, white wine vinegar, and sugar. Pour over broccoli mixture, and toss until well mixed. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
- When ready to serve, stir in the crumbled feta and sunflower seeds. Garnish salad with additional feta and sunflower seeds, as desired.
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