Save your fresh broccoli stems and use them to make an easy and delicious slaw! This slaw has a simple dressing and chewy dried cranberries along with salted roasted sunflower seeds for extra flavor and texture.
I love finding ways to reduce food waste and create something delicious with things that otherwise may get tossed. Often I save the ends of vegetables or herb stems to use when I make chicken or vegetable broth. Sometimes we use watermelon rinds to make pickles or candy.
Broccoli is one of our kids' favorite vegetables, so we frequently buy crowns or heads of fresh broccoli. Generally when I'm making cheddar broccoli soup or using broccoli in other ways, I do incorporate as much of the stem as possible. But, everyone likes the florets best when we are simply steaming it or eating it raw.
That means I save all the stems in a bag in the refrigerator until there are enough to make a batch of broccoli stem slaw. It's a simple and delicious side dish and it's perfect for pairing with summer grill and cookout foods.
The bonus is that the whole family loves this dish. The broccoli flavor is still there, just presented in a new way. The dressing is lightly sweet and tangy. And the addition of dried cranberries and sunflower seeds bring extra flavor and texture.
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Yield: 4-6 servings

Broccoli Stem Slaw with Cranberries
Save your fresh broccoli stems and use them to make an easy and delicious slaw! This slaw has a simple dressing and chewy dried cranberries along with salted roasted sunflower seeds for extra flavor and texture.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups (lightly packed) shredded broccoli stems (about 4 broccoli crown stems)
- 1 cup shredded carrot (about 1 large carrot)
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1-1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons roasted and salted sunflower seeds
Instructions:
- Place the shredded broccoli stems and carrot in a large bowl and stir in the cranberries.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, a good pinch of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Pour over the vegetables and cranberries and stir well.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- Before serving, stir and top with the sunflower seeds.
Notes:
I like to grate my broccoli stems and carrot using my food processor's shredding blade. You can also hand cut them into matchsticks.
I have made slaws with have mayo and half plain Greek yogurt with good results. I also sometimes use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice. I like lemon juice better with the broccoli, but both will work. Sometimes I add poppy seeds to the dressing.
I hope you give this broccoli stem slaw a try! Let me know in the comments below.
Check out these other picnic and cookout side dishes:
Creamy Beet & Apple Salad
Easy Creamy Grape Salad
Cowboy Beans
Warm Mexican Corn Salad
Waste not, want not. This is such a delicious and great slaw!
ReplyDeleteLooove how colorful it is, and of course, how healthy it is. ✔
ReplyDeleteI am all about less waste and this looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteDear Amy, what a delicious use of those wonderful broccoli stems - your slaw sounds wonderful with a lot of flavor and texture here and I love the addition of dried cranberries and sunflower seeds.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Andrea
Neat idea to use the stems in this slaw. I love slaw (and broccoli!) so this is definitely something I want to make. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis looks lovely. We love broccoli around here and I do the same.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great use of broccoli stems. Love this idea and also this slaw. Perfect for the 4th. Happy 4th!
ReplyDelete