Typical South African food includes the likes of broccoli and cauliflower, but have you ever thought of putting these two ingredients in a salad? Most people are used to having these veggies warm as part of a Sunday roast or even a midweek stew. But Saffas who know a bit about proudly South African food will know that both broccoli and cauliflower have their place on some of the best menus for South African salads.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to whip these two much-loved veggies into some of the best South African food you’ll get to savour, let’s first consider their benefits. Both broccoli and cauliflower are delicious (probably the most essential benefit!), and they’re also packed with antioxidants that decrease cell damage, protect against chronic disease and reduce inflammation. Serve yourself a double helping; thank you very much!

Now for the good stuff, the recipe! Keep in mind that the recipe below is for one of the most loved South African salads. You can serve broccoli and cauliflower salad South Africa as a side at braais, as a meal on its own (great for lunch), or as a regular dinner side.

Broccoli and cauliflower salad

How to make broccoli and cauliflower salad South Africa style

South African salads are in a league of their own. Not only are they healthy, but they’re delicious too. There’s no skimping on salad ingredients and flavour for South African food, is there? Certainly not! Let’s jump right in.

What you need for the salad:

• 1 x Cauliflower head (medium size, segmented into florets)
• 1 x Broccoli bunch (segmented into florets)
• 1 x pepper chopped (red or green)
• 1 x red onion (chopped finely)
• 1 x large bowl

What you need for the dressing:

• 1 x cup of mayo
• ½ cup of oil (canola or grapeseed)
• ½ cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup of white spirit vinegar
• Large lettuce leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 x medium bowl

What to do:

• Combine the cauliflower and broccoli florets in a large bowl. Add the chopped pepper and onion and toss to ensure all the ingredients are well blended.
• In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, vinegar, mayo and sugar together. Be thorough to ensure all are well mixed.
• Pour the dressing over the broccoli and cauliflower florets and mix thoroughly to ensure all the ingredients are coated.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the lettuce leaves around the outer edges of your serving bowl, or serve the salad on each plate inside a lettuce leaf.

Additional ingredients to consider

While this is the recipe for a basic, traditional broccoli and cauliflower salad in South Africa, there is room for sprucing it up, if you’re adventurous. Some great additional ingredients to consider adding include:

• A handful of cashew nuts
• Mini tomatoes
• Bacon or thin chicken strips
• Peas or edamame beans
• Combination of gouda cheese blocks and crumbled feta cheese

Don’t like it raw? Believe it or not, there is a cooked version of broccoli and cauliflower salad!

Recipe for roasted broccoli and cauliflower salad

What You need for the salad:

• 1 tablespoon of oil (olive or sunflower)
• ½ head of cauliflower
• ½ head of broccoli
• 5 radishes
• 1 bunch of coriander (fresh)
• 1 handful of spinach
• ½ a pomegranate
• 1 blood orange (or a regular orange)
• Salt and pepper to taste

What you need for the dressing

• 1/5 cup of soy milk
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of mustard
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons of vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste

What to do

• Chop up the cauliflower and broccoli into bite-size pieces
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the cauliflower for 10 mins on low heat.
• 3 minutes into frying the cauliflower, add the broccoli and stir it in.
• Cut the pomegranate in half, remove the seeds and then cut the orange too.
• Thinly slice the radishes.
• In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the dressing.
• When the cauliflower and broccoli are ready, place them in a bowl along with all the other ingredients.
• Pour the dressing into a serving bowl and mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
• Garnish with the pomegranate seeds, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste, and serve!

Pairing broccoli and cauliflower salad

A crunchy broccoli and cauliflower salad and a roast salad goes well with many things. Here are some typical South African food options to pair them with:

• Boerewors and mielies straight from the braai
• Roosterkoek and baked beans with a meat serving of your choice
• Roast chicken and roast potatoes
• Chilli chickpea side salad with potato bake
• Fresh rolls and thick slices of tomato
• Juicy steak and caramelized onions

These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. This is the type of salad that you can really experiment with, so don’t be too scared to!

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