Broccoli-bacon Salad

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 (1 g) packets splenda sugar substitute
• 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (see note)
• 1/2 lb bacon
• 1 lb fresh broccoli florets, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 medium red onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut in 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds

Recipe

• 1 cook bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels and crumble; set aside.
• 2 whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, pepper, sesame oil, garlic powder, soy sauce, and splenda together.
• 3 sprinkle the xanthan gum over the top and mix well.
• 4 cover and refrigerate for several hours.
• 5 cook bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels and crumble.
• 6 toss the broccoli, onions, bell pepper, celery, sunflower seeds, and crumbled bacon together in a large bowl.
• 7 add the dressing and toss to distribute evenly.
• 8 chill for several hours or until ready to serve.
• 9 note: xanthan gum is a low-carb thickener that can be used as a substitute for flour or cornstarch in almost any recipe. it does not require cooking to work. i keep a shaker of it by the stove to thicken soups and gravies. i also use to to give a more bread- or cake-like texture to low-carb baked goods. it has a tendency to form lumps when added to liquids, so if you're using more than just a sprinkle or two it works better if you whisk it into a couple of tablespoons of cold water before you add it to your recipe. the brand i use is authentic foods (www.authenticfoods.com).