The turkey gets top billing, but these Thanksgiving salad recipes wake up the whole plate ~ colorful, crunchy, fresh, and made for the richest meal of the year.
One takeaway from my 30 years in Southern California is a deep respect for a great salad. Out there, no holiday menu (or any menu, for that matter) feels complete without a big, gorgeous bowl of greens at the center of the table. A fresh fall salad can brighten the Thanksgiving lineup and keep the meal from feeling too heavy. Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving salads to add a little California sparkle to your feast this year…
The best greens for Thanksgiving salads
- Arugula ~ peppery and great with pears, apples, nuts, and cheese
- Radicchio ~ crisp, bitter, and beautiful on a holiday table
- Endive ~ sturdy, slightly bitter, and especially good with citrus or blue cheese
- Escarole ~ softer than radicchio but still has plenty of character
- Kale or baby kale ~ holds up well to hearty fall ingredients
- Frisée ~ light, crisp, and a little fancy
- Swiss chard ~ tender but sturdy, with an earthy flavor that works beautifully with roasted squash, grains, nuts, and sharp cheese
- Shaved Brussels sprouts ~ technically not a green, but perfect for fall salads
No greens? Think grains.
Farro, barley, wild rice, rye and wheat berries are great winter salad bases ~ hearty enough for Thanksgiving, but still fresh once you add herbs, fruit, nuts, cheese, and vinaigrette.
Wow, these look delicious and simply gorgeous!!! Can’t wait to try!