You don't have to cook broccoli for broccoli salad. The broccoli softens once it marinates in the dressing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you're not a fan of raw broccoli or have a hard time digesting it, you can blanch the broccoli before using in the salad. Cook it for 2 minutes in boiling water then drain and rinse well under cold water or place in a bowl of iced water for 2-3 minutes.