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Crisp, fresh broccoli and cheese tortellini with a creamy dressing are the basis of this salad. Raisins, sunflower seeds and red onion dress it up. This recipe is most requested at potlucks.
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 20 ounces fresh cheese-filled tortellini
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 3 heads fresh broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
Directions
Step 1
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
Step 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, and rinse under cold water.
Step 3
In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar to make the dressing.
Step 4
In a large bowl, combine broccoli, tortellini, bacon, raisins, sunflower seeds and red onion. Pour dressing over salad, and toss.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 12 | |
| Calories 322 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat16g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat4g | 21% |
| Cholesterol20mg | 7% |
| Sodium341mg | 15% |
| Total Carbohydrate39g | 14% |
| Dietary Fiber4g | 14% |
| Total Sugars18g | |
| Protein9g | |
| Vitamin C68mg | 342% |
| Calcium100mg | 8% |
| Iron1mg | 7% |
| Potassium372mg | 8% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
Powered by the ESHA Research Database ? 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved
source by allrecipe
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I flipped over this DELICIOUS recipe! So delicious, I took it on a 565 mile trip to visit close friends and they loved it too! I try alot of different recipes, this one is TOPS. My husband who is very finicky, loved it too! Try it you’ll LOVE it!
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This one is really good! The taste is wonderful and the texture is very nice. A pleasant change from the “usual” pasta salad. Because I don’t like this kind of salad to be overly sweet, I reduce sugar to 1/4 cup. This recipe got rave reviews from my picky family.
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Very good.
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Perfect combination of textures. I used chopped walnuts rather than sunflower seeds and would cut down on sugar in dressing next time. Served it to Mom on Mother’s Day. She loved it!
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Had this one at a potluck over memorial weekend while camping. Easy to prepare and they licked the bowl clean. I added 1/4 cup of milk to the dressing it seemed to coat better. Thumbs up to this one!
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This salad is “The Bomb”!!
Everyone loved it and requests that I bring it to my dad’s retirement party!
Thanks for the recipe! -
Very Tasty!
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I took this salad to a spring ladies luncheon and
received lots of compliments on the great flavor and
textures! -
I love tortellini and this was a huge hit with my family! Quick and easy is always my favorite.
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I had made salads like this without the added pasta, but this is really terrific. It will be a standard at my dinner parties.
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Our family loves this salad, because it’s a great summertime dish. It’s a meal in itself, but is also great to take to Potlucks and Cook-outs. It’s nutritious, appealing to the eye and delicious!
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A GREAT SALAD FOR THE SUMMER, I OMITTED
SUNFLOWERS SEEDS & RAISINS, THEN ADDED CASHEW HALVES. MY FRIENDS LOVED IT. -
I took out the bacon to save calories and found the salad quite tasty.
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I tried this for our July 4th Family Reunion and it was a hit! I substituted cashews for the sunflower seeds, since my family likes them better. The tortellini really adds to this recipe, too. It keeps it from being just another broccoli salad!—Steff
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I used a half cup of vinegar instead of the two teaspoons. It really brings out the flavor of the raisins. My guests really loved it.
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Very good! I used 9 pieces of bacon instead of 6 and cut the sugar amount requested by half. I used plain and spinach, garlic, and tomato flavored cheese-stuffed tortellini to add flavor and color to the salad.
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Great. I have had something similiar to this except without the pasta. Great Addition.
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We really liked this recipe. I would probably cut down on the sugar next time though, but other than that it is a definite keeper. Thanks for another great recipe.
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This is better than my old stand by recipe! The “dressing” adds just the right mix of zing and sweetness! A definite crowd pleaser!!
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This is wonderful – my new favorite!
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I tried this because of all the good reviews, but I can’t say that it lived up to them. It was good, but I have a recipe that I like better so I probably won’t try this again.
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This recipe was very flavorful. I doubled the bacon, omitted the raisins, used cashew halves instead of sunflower seeds, cut the sugar in half and added salt. It was very popular!
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I finally got my mom to eat her broccoli, and she loves it!
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This is an excellent salad recipe. I blanched the broccoli in boiling water for 3 minutes because it brings out the green color and makes it easier to chew.
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This is an excellent recipe. Enjoyed by everyone. Thank you.
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Great salad but it was a little dry. I would increase the dressing by about 1/3 next time.
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This was okay, but I was disappointed after reading all the raving reviews. The dressing needed something…maybe more vinegar. I think I will try the salad ingredients with a broccoli/caulflower salad dressing I have.
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I’ve made it both with and without the bacon. I took the broccoli florets and sunflower seeds off the salad bar, and use the Hormel already cooked bacon. I have had raves about it both with and without the bacon. I found that it needs more dressing than the recipe calls for.
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Have made this recipe several times with and without the tortellini and is loved by all. Tortellini add a pasta salad feeling.
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Great pasta salad! The ingredients are easy to find, and it tastes great! No modifications necessary!
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loved it however have to agree was a little dry would increase the dressing
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This salad was a real hit with my family! I increased the recipe for the dressing by 1/2 and it was just right. I also used frozen tortellini and it worked fine. J.Barber
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I really enjoyed this dish with all of the different flavors and textures. I used low fat mayonaise to lower the fat content a little. I wonder how it would be using a low fat or no fat ranch dressing and maybe decreasing the sugar a little.
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Yummy!
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different and wonderful!
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This is a wonderful “end of summer” salad…I changed a couple of things however…namely, I blanched the broccoli, I soaked the raisins in hot water until they were plump, and I toasted raw seeds, lightly salting them as I baked them in a 400 degree oven. I prepared the salad, without the dressing, the night before, letting the flavors meld, and on the next morning, before serving it, I lightly seasoned it with granulated garlic and black pepper. I added the dressing about an hour before serving.
This salad got rave reviews by all 30 people who tried it, and was one even by a 13 year old boy, whose staple is PB&J!
Jeanne, Everett, WA
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This has become another family favorite at
our home. My relatives have started asking for
this recipe after a recent family BBQ. That’s
always a very good sign! -
This recipe was well received at our family gathering – I had lots of requests for the recipe. Very easy to make and a real crowd pleaser. I did make 1 1/2 times the amount of dressing so it would not be dry and it turned out perfect.
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I thought this was a really good salad. Liked the dressing and different textures.
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I added canned beans and substituted cashews for the sunflower seeds. I brought it to a potluck and everybody licked their plates clean.
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Excellent salad. I’ve had this before without the tortellini but this was much better. It’s a great blend of flavors.
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My husband and I brought this dish to my company picnic and they all liked the pasta dish. They kept asking me for the recipe. Thanks for the great recipe.
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THIS RECIPE WAS MORE THAN WHAT I HAD EXPECTED. I’M NOT A FAN OF BROCCOLI BUT MUST SAY THIS WAS EXCEPTIONAL. I MADE IT FOR A SHOWER I WENT TO AND EVERYONE JUST RAVED ABOUT IT. I DID MAKE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS AFTER READING THE REVIEWS. ONE BEING INCREASING THE DRESSING, THE OTHER WAS SUBSTITUTING DRIED CRANBERRIES FOR THE RAISINS….DELICIOUS.
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This salad was a real crowdpleaser at a potluck. I am going to substitute Craisins for the called for raisins. Thought it would be more colorful for the holidays.
Yvette N.
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I served this salad at my daughter’s first birthday party and everyone loved it – I shared the receipe with two other moms.
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I brought this dish to a baby shower and everybody loved it. I read the other reviews beforehand and made the dressing with less sugar and it tasted great. I also made it without bacon and it still tasted great. Several people asked me for the recipe.
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This was the BEST! Much like the broccoli/cauliflower salad I usually make, but putting the tortellini in place of the cauliflower… YUM!!
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Loved it! Thank you! I used craisins instead of raisins and no bacon and we gobbled it up!
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I thought this was very good! I liked the sweet and sour contrast. A change from the same old mayo dressing. I will make it again!
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I’ve always loved the broccoli salad recipe-the tortellini is a nice change!
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WONDERFUL recipe! The tortellini is a nice change and easy to make!! I’ll come home and have this be my meal for the evening. It’s good even when not chilled. Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe!
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WONDERFUL recipe! The tortellini is a nice change and easy to make!! I’ll come home and have this be my meal for the evening. It’s good even when not chilled. Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe!
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Great salad! I used turkey bacon, and fat free mayo to cut the fat and calories. I will make this again.
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This was a great change for a holiday cookout meal. I think preparing it a few hours ahead really made a big difference in the taste and stress on cook. Didn’t have quite enough raisins but that didn’t seem to make much difference. Thanks Judy!
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My family loves this recipe. I made it for a wedding shower and another party. I was asked for the recipe several times at both events. A wide variety of people have said they love it. Update: My cousins and I exchanged “favorite recipes” at christmas- one cousin brought this recipe- I had given it to her a few years ago. So it came full circle. You can not miss with this. Make it exactly as it is written and it’s a sure winner.
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I have made this several times now, I love it! I do add 1/4 cup more mayo, sugar and 1tsp more vinegar. First time I’ve ever made tortellini. Easy and Delicious!!
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I used a packge of the new Barilla dry tortellini and the recipe worked fine. We liked it better than the old broccoli/cauli/bacon/cheese recipe.
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easy to put together
not a lot of time to make and delicious that day or the next -
“DELICIOUS” is the best way to describe this salad! My family loved it. Next time, I will cut down on the amount of sugar called for as well as the sunflower seeds. I added “craisins” instead of raisins, and the salad had a lovely color! Thanks for sharing this one.
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This was extremely yummy! I’m a vegetarian so I subsituted some bacon bits (fake) for the bacon. I doubled the dressing.
I can’t wait to make it again!! -
This was a great recipe. I also added Craisins and thought the taste of the salad was really complex and satisfying. I will definitely bring this to the next get-together to see how it goes over.
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This was absolutely delicious! I didn’t use quite as much broccoli and only 1/2 of the sunflower seeds as suggested. I will definitely make this again and again.
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Wow! This dish was a really big hit! I followed it exactly, and although I had my reservations about the sunflower seeds and the strange sauce, everyone ate it up! Three people asked for the recipe (which is really impressive because I can’t cook!!) It was a huge success.
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Excellent salad! I took this to a family reunion and ended up giving the recipe to two of my aunts.
Everyone loved it!
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This salad is delicious – I just made it for a picnic tomorrow but don’t think I can resist having it for dinner tonight!!
I blanched the broccoli lightly – came out perfect -
Very tasty. Glad I read the other reviews as I also cut down on the sugar and it was still great!
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I’ve made it for several parties with friends and for events at work. Everyone loved it. I’m sharing the recipe with friends…
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I found this recipe to be too sweet and tangy, but palatable. However, others downright hated it! I brought it to my mother, who eats anything I make. 🙂
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Made this recipe for a family dinner and everybody loved it. I had to make more dressing than was called for. I also used less sugar and it was still quite sweet. I think that I will try it with a more savory dressing, like a peppercorn ranch.
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Made this for my brother-in-law who loves the original broccoli salad recipe. Everybody loved it! They told me to always use this recipe again. It looks very impressive if served in a glass bowl and extremely colorful if you use red onion, Craisins and tri-color tortellini. DEFINITELY A KEEPER!!!
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This recipe is wonderful!!! I have now taken it to several cookouts, get-togethers, and parties, and the recipe is always requested by at least one or two people. HUGE hit everywhere we go!! Great for fixing ahead of time!
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Very good, almost addicting to eat! I ended up using dried tortellini because I had a bunch on hand, and that worked quite well, although you have to take great care that your tortellini do not fall apart when cooking and mixing the salad!
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My family and friends love this salad. We have made some revisions in the recipe. We do not add the sunflower seeds or the raisins. It is wonderful and very kid friendly.
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This is a great salad. On the recommendations of others, I blanched the broccoli which was great advice. I think I would cut back on the sugar next time. I also added some salt and pepper.
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The taste of this salad is DEFINATELY 5 STARS. The only reason I held back one star was because the dressing is very thin and sinks to the bottom of the bowl, I would suggest a way to thicken it but… Betty Crocker I am not. This is still an excellent salad that you MUST try! (Even kids like it!)
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This recipe is easy, and delicious! I got rave reviews from everyone at our party, many said it would be good as a main meal. Thanks Judy!
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This salad was great!! I doubled the dressing and it tasted awesome!!! Also I did blanch the broccoli so it would be softer to the bite. THANKS!!!
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What a great salad! This was very delicious, high above my expectations. We followed the recipe, except using less sugar. Next time, as suggested by others, I would double the dressing because the pasta soaks it up and it gets less if refrigerated. Definitely will make again!
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Great flavor and very nice appearance! I usually don’t add the sunflower seeds to the salad but let people sprinkle on their own. This prevents “soggy” sunflower seeds in the event you would have leftovers, which you probably won’t!!
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I have made this dish over 3 dozen times (for catered events, family, parties, etc.) It always gets raves–no leftovers!! As recommended by others, I blanch the broccoli florets for about 30 seconds, plunge into ice water until cooled, then drain and dry. The broccoli stays a gorgeous green and is easier to eat. I usually omit the raisins, but have them on the side for sprinkling. Also, I usually make 1 1/2 times the dressing. Typically, I mix the salad together with about 1/3 of the dressing and leave covered tightly in the fridge overnight or for several hours-the pasta soaks up the dressing. About 30-60 minutes before serving, I add the rest of the dressing. This salad is always a hit!
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This is a really nice change of pace from the standard broccoli salad I usually make (which I’ll be making no longer) The combination of the different ingredients definitely makes this salad. I doubled the dressing; used less sugar & more vinegar to taste. Result was awesome. I got numerous compliments & requests for the recipe. A real keeper!
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Everyone loves this salad since it combines many different flavors! I usually use tri-color cheese tortellini to give it a little color. I also use 2 packages of tortellini.
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I used craisons. Did not like this salad very much. The flavors did not mingle well together
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Loved this! Be careful with the tortellini. I hadn’t cooked with it before and it tended to fall apart with too much stirring. (I may have overcooked it) I used tri-colored tortellini and craisins for a more festive look, used just less than 1/4 cup sugar and doubled the rest of the dressing ingredients. I blanched the broccoli for 30 seconds. I also followed the suggestion to mix salad with 1/3 of dressing and leave covered in fridge overnight. I added the rest of the dressing an hour before serving. Oh – and I do wish I would have chopped the onions more finely. Resulting taste was a bit more “oniony” than intended. Overall, it turned out wonderfully! I was concerned that the flavors wouldn’t blend well, but this was great together!
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delicious!! Served this for one of my children’s birthday parties and everyone loved it. The dressing is so good I could eat it with a spoon.
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I love broccoli salads Judy and tossing tortellini around in there is a great idea. I’m not too crazy about the cheese and I like to use crasins instead of raisins. The mayonnaise dressing is a great blend of sweet and tart and is a must for this recipe. Can’t wait to try this out on friends. Thanks for the submission.
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Great with a simple grilled steak or chicken breast, this salad is a myriad of tastes. Make sure you are a fan of all things sweet, tart, and tangy if you plan to make this. If you don’t like Miracle Whip, for example, this salad is not for you. Otherwise it’s a fun and original alternative to the classic cold pasta salad.
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This salad is wonderful! A very big hit at a get-together we recently attended. I doubled the mayo as suggested in other reviews and it was right-on! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
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I have been making this salad for almost a year now, it has become a family and friend favorite. I have some picky children and husband, so I omit the raisins and sunflower seeds, and there is never any problem with leftovers.
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I’ve tried this salad before, however, it didn’t have the tortellini. I think it makes a big difference and really enjoy it. My boyfriend ate almost the whole salad himself!!!
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Great recipe which was well received at a recent pot luck dinner. Per other reviews, I did make a few adjustments. For the dressing I used 1 1/2 cups mayo, 6 T sugar and 1 T Cider Vinegar. I reserved some of the dressing to toss just before serving, since pastas absorb a lot of dressing as they sit in the frig. I also save some bacon to sprinkle on top just before serving. Like many others, I did blanch the broccoli. Very tasty recipe!!
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The recipe was great! But I did make some adjustments to the ingredients. I left out the sugar, and used honey roasted sunflower seeds, used white raisins, and also used sour cream with the mayonaise. It was sweet enough with out the sugar. I also steamed the broccoli until tender, and used rice wine vinegar and cider vinegar.
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yum! i am not a fan of broccoli, but i love this salad. i was looking for something a little bit different for memorial day, and this fit the bill nicely. i followed the other reviews and doubled the dressing, reserving half and adding just before serving. a hit!
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This salad has so many flavors that blend. We enjoy it with bbq’d meat along with a potato salad when friends drop by. Always a hit! Kids like it too.
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I love this salad. I leave out the pasta and just do it all veggie (with sunflwer seeds of course) I also use finely chopped dates they are less sweet than raisins.
My suggestion to those who disliked it the first time, use MAYONNAISE not MIRACLE WHIP or salad dressing. This makes a HUGE difference in most salads that call for Mayo. There IS no substitute for mayo.
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This is so good & so easy to make…Even my mother-in-law who is a BIG food critic loves it…Thanks again!
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Everyone at the party wanted the recipe!
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Easy and Fast for any potluck…many compliments and requests for this recipe. After reading all the alterations to the original recipe, I tried a fellow reviewer’s advice (Mary Domaz on 4/23/03)and it came out perfect. I will make again when someone asks me to “bring a dish” to a party.
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This was delicious! Can I give this more stars? I also followed the review of Mary Domaz and it was perfect. I didn’t have raisins, so I substituted dried cranberries. I took it to a friend that has a restaurant and she said that it was going on her salad bar immediately. Some do not like sweet dressing on their vegetables, but it is perfect for us! Thanks!
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My husband wasn’t too thrilled with it, but it was a big hit with the rest of the family.
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