Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Fast Food That Won't Weigh You Down

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (96)

Cook Time:
6 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 6 min
Total:: 21 min

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets
2 1/2 cups bite-sized cauliflower florets
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 to 1 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups lightly packed fresh spinach leaves
1/2 lemon, zested
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place the broccoli and cauliflower in a large bowl. Toss with the beaten eggs to coat evenly. Place the Parmesan in a large tray or baking dish and dredge the vegetables in the cheese, pressing to coat evenly.

Pour olive oil in a large heavy skillet until the olive oil is 1/4-inch deep, about 1/2 cup depending on the size of your skillet. Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, carefully add the Parmesan-coated vegetables. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches, if necessary. Let the vegetables cook until a crust forms, about 3 minutes per side. Turn the vegetables only when they easily release from the bottom of the pan. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.

Place the spinach in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the spinach with the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Add the Parmesan coated vegetables. Toss and serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Ana Ft. Lauderdale, FL 02-06-2010
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Delicious, but wish there was a way to make it healthier by baking it.
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I would make this again. Read some folks had trouble with batter not staying on the vegetables. Would suggest to get the... oil really hot at 1st, then turn down the heat to medium which will allow it to get nice golden brown and crispy. I might try baking it and spraying the olive oil on the baking sheet and spray the oil on the veggies. Would set oven to a 450 degree for 10 - 15 minutes turning once.Read more
recipe Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
mary lake forest, IL 01-31-2010
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not the best
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I have to agree with some readers that this is somewhat time consuming. It is OK but nothing spectacular. The veggies were... not terribly crisp and despite the fact that I salted them, they were somewhat tasteless. I did like the dressing however. It was really fresh and lemony.Read more
recipe Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Stephanie Jupiter, FL 01-20-2010
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Super Yummy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this salad this weekend when my boyfriend and I had friends over. It was sooooo good. I did not add any salt to the... veggies as I thought the parmesan had enough flavor. As mentioned by another reviewer, I also added 1 Tbsp honey to the dressing and it really added a nice balance. I, too, found the dressing to be a bit too much for 4 cups of spinach, so I just added more spinach! I made this again last night and baked the broccoli and cauliflower. It was definitely not as good as the fried version, but I'm sure we all already knew that! :) This is something I will be making again and again and again.... Thanks Giada!Read more
recipe Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Samantha Shreveport, LA 01-19-2010
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Easy to make and Tastes Good!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I did a test run today with just the broccoli for a dinner I am making tommorow. I did baked one half and fried the other... half to see which way tasted better. I definitely prefer the fried ones, because the baked ones didn't seem to have as much flavor! My two year old son is my trusty taste tester and he loved the fried one but barely ate the baked ones...I think it's because the fried ones were crispier! I used an extra egg and did not have any trouble with the cheese sticking. They came out golden brown and crispy! I think I will be making these just for a healthy snack in the future!Read more
recipe Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Bree Atlanta, GA 01-17-2010
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Clean dressing, but veggies a lot of work
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I am a huge fan of Giada and love her CA flare for recipes since I grew up there and spent most of my life. Unfortunately, I... will not make this recipe again. The veggies were a lot of work and definitely do not need added salt. Although the dressing was simple and "clean" tasting, it really was a "blah" salad even if you had the fried cauliflower & broccoli with every bite. If you are looking for a Giada salad with great flavor, I highly recommend her Asian Chicken Salad.Read more
recipe Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Joanna Las Vegas, NV 01-17-2010
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Simply delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Made this for my husband the other day and we absolutely loved it! The dressing was simple and clean--reminded me of those... herb-based salad dressings in Europe which are light and tastes fresh. The salad was good enough for a filling meal! Found that the cauliflower held the batter better than the broccoli. The cheese didn't really hold onto the broccoli (is it because i didn't use the authentic Parmigiano Reggiano?) and the broccoli kind of absorbed the oil during frying. Nevertheless, would make this again!Read more