Food
Thanksgiving Salad Is the Perfect Last-Minute Refreshing and Flavorful Side: Easy 5-Minute Recipe
Between forkfuls of mashed potatoes smothered in gravy and mac and cheese, you need a side that’s light and refreshing so you can actually finish the meal. Luckily, a salad does just the trick and takes just minutes to prepare. While any combination of greens and mix-in work, we found a Thanksgiving salad recipe that uses fresh ingredients, like pomegranate seeds, sliced apple and feta, and tosses them in a homemade apple cider dressing. This creates a sweet, tangy and slightly salty salad that pairs well with the turkey and heartier sides in your turkey day spread. Plus, a simple trick will turn any limp lettuce leaves crisp in as little as 15 minutes. Here’s how to make a festive salad to go with the big meal.
Why you should make Thanksgiving salad as a side
Salad may seem like it has no place in a Thanksgiving food lineup, but we promise it does! Fruits such as apples, pears and pomegranates are in season during fall so there’s no better time to savor them than now. On top of this, you likely have pecans and dried cranberries already in your pantry for other holiday dishes. It’s a great excuse to also use these ingredients in a salad to prevent them from going to waste. What ties this salad together is an apple cider-infused dressing that’s full of tangy and pungent flavors. Ultimately, a Thanksgiving salad is a nice change of pace if you’re looking for an additional side to include in the feast.
Easy trick for ensuring crisp lettuce for your Thanksgiving salad
Depending on when you’ve done your shopping, your lettuce leaves might be slightly limp. No need to worry though because YouTuber @JulianaDeliberais demonstrated how to crisp up those leaves in one of her videos. She simply submerges the separated lettuce leaves in a bowl of ice water and lets them sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, the lettuce is ready to dry using a colander and paper towels or a salad spinner. The ice bath revives the lettuce by adding moisture back into it so it’s firm and crisp again. Give it a try to ensure your Thanksgiving salad has plenty of crunch!
A tasty Thanksgiving salad recipe
This Thanksgiving salad recipe comes from YouTuber @HerWholesomeKitchen and is packed with texture and flavor in each bite. Feel free to customize the recipe to your liking: using an extra apple instead of a pear, swapping golden raisins for dried cranberries or incorporating almonds in place of pecans in the salad base.
Additionally, you can make the dressing ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to four days. Just be sure to toss it with the ingredients right before serving so the salad doesn’t become soggy. Your guests may be a little shocked to see a salad on the dinner table. But, one taste of it will convince them that it belongs with the rest of the Thanksgiving spread.
Thanksgiving Salad
Ingredients:
Salad base:
- 6 cups lettuce (any variety)
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 1 pear, thinly sliced
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup cup crumbled feta cheese
Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 Tbs. honey
- 2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp. mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
- In small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for dressing. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Set aside.
- In large serving bowl, place lettuce, sliced apple and pear, pomegranate seeds, chopped pecans, dried cranberries and crumbled feta. Drizzle dressing over salad base and toss until thoroughly combined. Serve.
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