Lemony Broccoli & Lemon Vinaigrette ♥ Recipes for an Easy Salad

Today's easy salad recipe: Think lemon on lemon, broccoli tops soaked in lemon juice atop lettuce dressed in a creamy lemon vinaigrette. Only two points for Weight Watchers and low-carb too. Simple and surprisingly substantial.

While visiting my father earlier this month, one objective was to provide Olga, his loving companion since my mother died, a 'vacation' from cooking and clean-up. Given the unseasonably warm temperatures and our light appetites, suppers were more about assembling salads than actual cooking.

This salad was a surprise hit, including for me, the cook. ;-) That first night, we added some leftover grilled meat to the salad plates (Note to Vegetarians) and found the meal surprisingly substantial: we ALL skipped dessert that night.

I've made it at home twice now since returning and am completely hooked on the simple combination of lemon on lemon. The broccoli tips soak up the lemon, the greens are dressed in a creamy lemon. I tried one version with asparagus but the spears just can't absorb the lemon flavor as well as the broccoli tops.

To my taste, the salad is more than a sum of its parts.

This recipe is so quick and easy that I'm adding it to a growing collection of easy summer recipes published all summer long in 2009 at Kitchen Parade, my food column, and now again in 2010. With a free Kitchen Parade e-mail subscription, you'll never miss a one!

TESTIMONIALS
"... the lemon vinaigrette is fantastic and the whole combination was a nicely different than usual combination for us even though I actually had everything on hand. This is a keeper. Thanks!" ~ Tom & Kari
"Very tasty! I took it to a potluck and it was well-received ..." ~ Nancy

LEMONY BROCCOLI & LEMON VINAIGRETTE for an EASY SALAD

Hands-on time: 25 minutes
Time to table: 25 minutes
Serves 4 (as part of the salad, 2 as a side dish)

BROCCOLI
Well-salted water to cover
1/2 pound broccoli crowns, trimmed and cut into florets
Ice water
Juice of 1/2 a lemon

LEMON VINAIGRETTE
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon cream
1/2 teaspoon good mustard such as Dijon
1/2 teaspoon sugar or to taste (don't skip this, it really draws out the lemon flavor)
Salt & pepper to taste

TO SERVE
Lettuce greens, preferably a soft lettuce such as leafy green or leafy red
1 - 2 scallions, chopped
Alfalfa sprouts
1 ounce feta cheese (about one-inch square), crumbled
Cooked Lemony Broccoli
Grilled meat, optional
Sunflower seeds, optional but provide nice texture contrast

BROCCOLI Bring the water to a boil. Drop in the broccoli florets and cook until fully cooked but still bright green. Drain the broccoli and drop into ice water to stop the cooking. Let drain as long as possible, then drop into the lemon juice, broccoli tops first, the better to soak up the liquid. The broccoli could be / maybe even should be cooked at least a few minutes ahead of time to allow time to cool and soak -- or to have on hand for another salad another day!

VINAIGRETTE Whisk together all the ingredients.

TO SERVE Toss the lettuce greens, scallions and alfalfa sprouts with the Lemon Vinaigrette. Arrange the greens on four plates, top with feta cheese and a few more alfalfa sprouts. Arrange the Lemony Broccoli and meat slices, if using, on the salad. Top with sunflower seeds if using. Serve and savor!

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Per Serving, not including optional ingredients (How many calories in Lemony Broccoli & Lemon Vinaigrette? How many Weight Watchers points in Lemony Broccoli & Lemon Vinaigrette?): 91 Calories; 6g Tot Fat; 2g Sat Fat; 11mg Cholesterol; 119mg Sodium; 7g Carb; 1g Fiber; 2g Sugar; 4g Protein; Weight Watchers 2 points

ALANNA's TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
Be sure that the broccoli is cooked enough to soak up the lemon juice. One batch, I cooked too al dente and it just didn't work.

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MORE of MY FAVORITE BROCCOLI RECIPES
~ Perfect Pan-Fried Broccoli ~
~ Broccoli Potato Cheddar Soup ~
~ Broccoli & Bok Choy with Coconut & Curry ~
~ more broccoli recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture

~ Power Food Broccoli Salad ~
~ Broccoli Rigatoni with Chickpeas ~
~ Grilled Vegetables in Foil ~
~ more broccoli recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

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