broccoli apple salad, raw broccoli tossed with a creamy coconut-lemon dressing and chilled

A raw, no-cook salad sounds like nothing, until you are the one packing lunch for a desk with no stove and no microwave you trust. This is built for that morning: chop it, jar the dressing, and by noon the broccoli has softened just enough in the fridge that it eats easy instead of squeaking against your teeth. On a protocol week, that ease is worth more than it looks like on paper.

The onion is easy to overlook here, but it is doing real work. Its quercetin, a plant flavonoid, is tied to how calmly the body's histamine response runs, useful when your system is already managing plenty of inflammation. Raw broccoli holds onto more of its vitamin C than cooked broccoli does, since heat is what breaks it down first, and your body relies on that vitamin C to keep its own collagen production steady.

There is bacon in here too, sourced compliant and cooked crisp, and it is worth a moment of gratitude while you build the bowl: color from the carrots, crunch from the apple, and a few unhurried minutes to make it look like something before you eat.

Ingredients

• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 3/4 cup apples, chopped
• 1/3 cup red onion, diced
• 1/3 cup carrots, julienned
• 4 slices cooked bacon, chopped (use sugar-free, compliant bacon)
• 1/3 cup raisins or unsweetened dried cranberries (use compliant)
• Dressing: 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk, 2 tbsp avocado oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt

Method

Cut the broccoli into small bite-sized florets so they are easy to eat raw and the dressing can cling to them. Add them to a large mixing bowl with the chopped apple, diced red onion, julienned carrots, chopped bacon, and raisins.

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the coconut milk, avocado oil, lemon juice, and salt until smooth and creamy.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well coated.

Cover and chill for about 30 minutes before serving. This rest lets the flavors come together and softens the broccoli slightly. Give it one more toss, then serve cold.

*Adapted from lichenpaleolovingaip.com*