Pistachio Free Basil-Pesto Broccoli Slaw
Bright, herby, and packed with texture, this broccoli slaw is the kind of dish that makes you rethink what a salad can be. Raw broccoli gets pulsed in a food processor until it's coarse and rice-like, then tossed with shredded carrot, scallion greens, chewy dried cranberries, and golden toasted coconut for a combination that's genuinely exciting to eat. The real star is the homemade pesto — a vibrant blend of fresh basil, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, and a hint of ground ginger that comes together in under a minute and coats every piece of slaw beautifully. Traditional pesto often calls for pine nuts or pistachios, but this version skips the nuts entirely without sacrificing any of that rich, aromatic depth. A short rest before serving lets the broccoli soften just enough to soak up all that flavor, so the finished dish tastes like it took far more effort than it did. It works as a vibrant side, a light lunch, or a make-ahead dish that holds up well — and every ingredient is straightforward and easy to verify as safe.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the slaw
- 1 large head broccoli (about 1 lb), cut into florets and stems trimmed
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (green tops only)
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ⅛ tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- 1
Toast the shredded coconut in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool.
- 2
Working in batches if needed, pulse the broccoli florets and stems in a food processor until broken down into small, rice-like pieces roughly the size of a pea — the texture should be coarse and shred-like, not pureed. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
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