Please help me lighten Broccoli Salad

[jliah]

I have a recipe that I LOVE, but it's so full of fat. I have used turkey bacon in place of the regular bacon and enjoyed that. I'm not familiar with the low-fat or no-fat mayonnaises out there. Is there something that could be used so the flavor of the recipe won't change that much? My friend did try using Miracle Whip once and it was a disaster.

I'll post the recipe for those interested.


Broccoli Salad

3 large heads broccoli, cut up
1/2 cup sugar
3 T vinegar
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1 cup raisins
6 slices fried bacon, crumbled

Mix dressing ingredients and stir in the broccoli. Let refrigerate a few hours before serving.

[kwormann]

Hellmans makes a light and a low fat mayo...one has 5 g fat/serving, one has 1 g fat. I LOVE the one with 1 g fat, I think it tastes like mayo, I betting the 5 g fat one tastes even more like the original!

thanks for the recipe!

kim

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 03-17-2001).]

[AndreaU]

What about a combination low-fat or light mayo with low-fat or fat-free sour cream? I, too, love broccoli salad so I'd be interested in healthier substitutions.

[Ralph]

I agree w/Eleanor regarding the sugar. Low-fat and fat-free mayo have added corn syrup to keep the consistency & obviously it adds sweetness.
May I also suggest cutting the amount of sunflower seeds by about half. I would think you'd still get the taste/texture of them, but without as much fat.
I'm glad the turkey bacon works; again, can you cut back on the amount? You may also want to try diced prosciutto.

[ElinorC]

That recipe is similar to one that I also love. I use light mayonaise and it seems to work just fine. My recipe also has much less sugar ( you might want to cut back on yours since light mayo seems to be sweeter than the regular.) Good luck.

[jliah]

Thanks for all the help! You guys are GREAT.

[tovie]

I make this, minus the sunflower seeds since they're not listed on my recipe, with the fake bacon flavored bits that you find down the salad aisle. I think whatever version I buy is fat-free. I don't eat pork, so I've never had it with the real thing to compare tastes, but I like it just fine.

It's also pretty good using balsamic vinegar for at least part of the vinegar.

[funnybone]

My take on this is that there are some recipes that cannot/should not be lightened. Also, it's not as if you would be eating it everyday, so once in a while is okay. The best thing is to not accompany it with another dish high in fat.

However, it you must, the mayo is definitely the place to start. Also, there are leaner bacons out there as well. But really, 6 slices, in the recipe, and it probably serves 4-6 people, really isn't that much.

As for fake bacon, I have never tried it. I only eat real bacon when called for in certain recipes. I'm sure the fake version has other ingredients in it that are just as unhealthy as fat. What is it made from anyway?

[jliah]

hmm. I don't really know what is in that turkey bacon. I guess I'll have to check that out. I like the flavor better than real bacon because it doesn't seem greasy to me.

[BeckyM]

I have a recipe similar to this, and I follow the suggestions others have made -- fat free mayonnaise (I use Miracle Whip, and I really like that flavor!), turkey bacon & reducing the amount of it, and a reduced amount of sunflower seeds. I'd say to experiment and see what you think tastes best.

By the way, I'm glad you posted this, because it reminded me to pull out that recipe and make it again!

[schuh]

Just wanted to add that I have used Hellmann's Light for years and I swear you can't taste the difference between it and the real stuff. Try it -- you'll like it!

[Concha]

Don Mauer (that "Lean and Lovin' It guy that CL featured about 2 months ago) has this version of that salad--I pulled it out of our local paper last summer. It's sweet, and pretty close to the original.

Honey-Sweetened Broccoli Salad

1 cup lowfat mayonnaise
1/4 cup honey
2 tblsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp pepper
4 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup seedless raisins
1/2 pound bacon
1 cup shredded lowfat cheddar cheese

Add the mayonnaise, honey, vinegar and black pepper to a medium-large mixing bowl, whisking until smooth and combined. Add the broccoli, raisins, cooked bacon and cheese, stir and fold until coated with dressing and well mixed. Cover and refrigerate from 2 to 24 hours. Stir, taste, and adjust seasonings.

Mauer also had instructions on the cooking the bacon--he suggests trimming the bacon (but then you'd have nothing left!) and oven roasting it. Blot well with paper towels before crumbling.

Yield: 8 servings

CALORIES 207 (35% from fat); FAT 8g; FIBER 1.8g; WW POINTS 4 1/2

[michelern]

The only thing I do (I have the same recipe) is use light mayo and about 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds....I love this recipe and like someone else had already mentioned, when you divide this salad among 4-6 people, it doesn't seem quite as frightening in fat grams as far as the bacon is concerned....

[makedah]

I had this at a party and really liked it (picking around the raisins, of course), but if I just saw the recipe I would NEVER make it. I would have thought: Mayonnaise and broccoli, blegh!