Turkey Salad
4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalIngredients
2 cups cooked turkey, white and dark meat
1 unpeeled apple, cored and diced small (1¼ cups)
1/2 cup very finely sliced celery, stalk and leaves
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup (loose) minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 dried thyme
1/4 flaked sea salt
1/4 coarsely cracked pepper
1 Tbs chopped hot pickled cherry peppers, or more to taste
1 heaping tsp dill pickle relish
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Minorcan datil pepper mustard
1/2 cup (loose) freshy grated Parmesan
1/2 cup + 1 Tbs mayo, more or less to taste
Romaine lettuce, for service
Warm, crusty rolls, for service
Whole cranberry sauce, for service
Directions
- Dice the turkey up into neat cubes, then run a knife through it a few times to get it to be partially chopped. Place it into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- With the exception of the mayo and the service items, add all remaining ingredients and toss thoroughly. Add just enough mayo to bind the salad together.
- Serve over romaine lettuce and accompany with crusty rolls spread with cranberry sauce.
Using up leftovers is hardly the primary reason to make this salad – it’s absolutely fantastic! I look forward to it almost more than Thanksgiving!
Intro
This is a terrific turkey salad. It’s savory, sweet, salty, tangy, and just a little bit spicy. If it were served to me in a restaurant, I would be overjoyed with it and would be telling all my friends to order it. Foods like this are unassuming by nature, but within that milieu, this is a real standout.
Social Learning: tips, tricks, and ideas
Leave the peel on the apple. It’s pretty in the salad, and it’s good for you.
Of course, you can make this with chicken.
The Backstory
I have so many favorite things to do with leftover Thanksgiving turkey; but this one is has shot up near the top of the list. If you’re old enough to remember when chicken salad on a bed of lettuce was called a “diet plate,” you’ll feel so good about having this turkey salad the day after Thanksgiving. However, believe me – you will be sacrificing nothing to have it! It’s absolutely delicious.
Outro
Although I realize that it’s tough to beat a full leftover dinner plate the day after Thanksgiving, I would rather have this salad. It’s that good. It also packs beautifully in a take-to-work lunch that you will look forward to cracking into all morning.
Turkey Salad
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Bonjour .
June très jolie salade je ne connaissais pas a la dinde ces très originel .
Je te souhaite une bonne semaine et un bon lundi .
Thank you, Jacques!
C’est une délicieuse salade
Bonne soirée
Thank you, Delphine!
This sounds delicious!! I’m sure TBG would love it too. I always look forward to making Brunswick stew with a lot of the left over turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Thanks, Lori! I’ll have to look up Brunswick stew. What a great name!
This sounds great. A very long list of ingredients for a turkey salad!
Thanks, Mimi! It is a long list, for sure. But so worth it.
Ottima e gustosa insalata, grazie!!!
Thank you!
Un buen aprovechamiento del pavo y es que además con todos los ricos ingredientes que lleva la veo muy de mi gusto.
Thank you, Ana!
Your turkey salad sounds terrific. I like that you added hot pickled cherry peppers to the mix for a little spice.
Thanks, Karen!
Minorcan datil pepper mustard? That’s a new one to me…but I do love mustard! We occasionally make a turkey “spread” that is very similar. It uses different ingredients and it’s a bit looser (the cooked turkey goes through a meat grinder) but it’s a fun way to use leftovers. I’ll have to try your version!
That spread sounds interesting! But yes, Minorcan datil pepper mustard. Someone gifted me a jar. You can find it online, and you can also find recipes to make it. However, I think I would sub spicy mustard or Dijon, but add a touch of sriracha.
Such a delightful salad packed with many flavours and textures. I particularly like the addition of walnuts and raisins!
Thanks, Ben!
wow che bontà!
Thank you, Daniela!
Happy Thanksgiving from Australia where ’tis not a holiday of course! No turkey either, 🙂 ! Actually have more favourite birds but do love your salad recipe . . . and other birds can easily be substituted here!!! Have never heard of or used your pepper mustard . . . must look for it! Thanks!
You’re welcome. And yeah, that’s a pretty special mustard. You could substitute a spicy mustard, and add maybe a dash or sriracha.
Sounds delicious! Now I just have to hope there will be leftover turkey.
There’s always hope!
This recipe takes turkey salad to a whole new level. Looks delicious.
Thanks, Judy!
I’ll remember this salad for after Christmas with chicken Geoff, however I might have to make it sooner. Looks absolutely delicious. It’s salad weather here.
It must be so lovely to be heading into warm weather!
Your turkey salad is perfec for me, I like all the ingredients you used to make it.
Thanks, Javier!
I’m always on the hunt for leftover turkey recipe Jeff. This looks the business. Reminds me a little of waldorf salad, what with the celery, apple and walnut. That’s a favourite of mine so I’m pretty sure I’ll love this. Hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving time! 🙂
You know, I hadn’t thought of that, but it sure is like a Waldorf!
Very delicious!!!
Thank you, Carla!
Post Thanksgiving recipes begin. This is a great turkey salad recipe, and with water rolls, yum!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
Looking forward to all your posts in 2025!
Thank you so much, Velva!
Perfect for post Thanksgiving turkey usage. Since I don’t like Turkey (and usually make one for Thanksgiving, I a, always interested in the leftovers recipes! Thanks!
Well as far as I’m concerned, Thanksgiving dinner is all about the sides, and I have a feeling yours are terrific.
I would definitely make more leftover turkey for this, its a much more tastier treat
Thanks, Raymund!
This is the perfect recipe to use leftover turkey. I am not one for eating turkey reheated the next day as is because turkey burnout is so real, so finding gems like this to incorporate the leftover meat into for a whole new dish is the way to go for me.
Thanks, Theresa!
This turkey salad looks so tasty and perfect for using up leftovers! I love the combo of ingredients you’ve chosen – it sounds like it has the perfect balance of flavors. Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks for sharing such a delicious and simple recipe!
You’re welcome!