Should I serve salad at Thanksgiving?

A Thanksgiving salad is a great way to add color to your holiday plate . Plus, who doesn't appreciate a few bites of something light and refreshing between forkfuls of stuffing?

What are the five main types of salads as categorized by their place in menus?

The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination . The five basic salads that can be served throughout the course of a meal are starter, accompaniment, main course, intermezzo, and dessert.

How do you get the most out of a salad?

Think in layers : Start with your base veggies or leaves, then add a layer of dressing, a layer of crunch (try seeds or nuts), a layer of “bite” (such as cheese, chili, or pickles), followed by another layer of veggies or leaves, and so on. This way you don't have all the best bits at the top.

Is just a salad enough for dinner?

If you follow the healthy salad formula and ensure the meal has plenty of veggies, protein and healthy fat, then it can be a great breakfast, lunch and dinner option . Be cautious of eating salad that is exclusively greens or vegetables, as it may be too low in calories, healthy fats or protein to sustain you.

Is a salad enough for dinner?

The good news is that if you love salads, they can absolutely be a complete meal with proper planning !

What is the best lettuce for picky eaters?

Romaine lettuce is a great vegetable to eat for picky eaters. It has a mild flavor that won't overwhelm the senses, and it's packed with nutrients.

Which salad type stimulates the appetite?

An appetizer salad should stimulate the appetite and have fresh, crisp ingredients such as cheese, ham, salami, shrimp, crabmeat, or vegetables lightly coated with a tangy, flavorful dressing (that will 'wake up the mouth'). Appetizer salads should be substantial, but not filling.

What is C salad called?

A Caesar salad (also spelled Cesar, César and Cesare) is a green salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with lemon juice (or lime juice), olive oil, eggs or egg yolks, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.

What salad fills you up?

Dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale and romaine are packed with fiber . Fiber is what makes us feel full, so be sure to choose salads that contain these greens. If you don't care for spinach or kale, you can stick to iceberg lettuce, but be sure to add protein to your greens.

How do restaurants get their salads so crisp?

The Keys to Crisp Lettuce Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge .

When should salad be served?

Traditionally, the salad follows the main course, but restaurants generally serve salad first , and people have come to believe that the practices of restaurants represent the best service. They fail to realize that restaurants have to work around problems that private households do not.

How many sides should you serve for Thanksgiving?

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides . For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

Should you serve appetizers at Thanksgiving?

You might think there's no need for appetizers when you're preparing a big turkey dinner with all the classic sides (plus pies for dessert!), but having some easy bites that guests can nibble on when they arrive means that no one notices if it takes a few extra minutes to get the meal on the table.

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (2024)

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (1)

The hardest part about Thanksgiving dinner? Choosing sides. (For the plate, not the game.) But one side dish can be all-to-easy to overlook: the salad. It can feel like an afterthought!

To help make every dish on the sideboard as tempting as possible.So we've assembled our favorite hearty Thanksgiving salad recipes. These are sturdy enough to hold their own on a piled-up plate and flavorful enough to be worth adding.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Warm Apple Cider Dressing

Skip the roasted sprouts side this year, and serve 'em up as a salad instead. Trust us: One bit of this tangy, richy, cider-and-bacon laced dish and the family won't let you make them any other way.

Get the recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.

Leek, Mushroom, and Escarole Salad

Calling all mushroom lovers! Your favorite mix, liberally drizzled in a delicious vinaigrette, is the reason to make this.

Get the recipe for Leek, Mushroom, and Escarole Salad.

Escarole Salad with Oranges, Pistachios, and Pickled Onions

We can't get over how well-balanced this wintry citrus salad is, with sweet slices of fruit, tart pickled onions, and earthy nuts topping the mildly bitter greens.

Get the recipe for Escarole Salad with Oranges, Pistachios, and Pickled Onions.

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Roasted Pear, Sweet Potato, and Radicchio Salad

Here's a salad that'll stand up to all the other sides on your plate. Crunchy seeds and rich blue cheese make this a real flavorful addition.

Get the recipe for Roasted Pear, Sweet Potato, and Radicchio Salad.

The Casa Wedge Salad

Want to make salad it's own course at the Thanksgiving feast? A wedge salad is a classic choice. We love this version, which has a kicky Creamy Avocado Dressing.

Get the recipe for The Casa Wedge Salad.

Big Green Winter Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Come holiday time it's easy to get focused on the main dishes and heavier sides—your turkey, your stuffing, your casseroles—and forget about the salad. With sweet golden beets, lightly toasted pine nuts, and a kicky vinaigrette all on a bed of hearty kale, this recipe is here to change all that.

Get the recipe for Big Green Winter Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette.

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Thanksgiving Kale Salad with Cranberries and Quinoa

This beauty takes a little work, but you can make most of the elements a few days—or even a week—ahead. And the "oohs" and "ahhs" you'll get from the table will be worth it.

Get the recipe for Kale Salad with Cranberries and Quinoa.

Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

Fun fact: Salad doesn't necessarily mean raw.

Case in point: This rustic roasted squash sensation, peppered with baby kale and drizzled with a dip-worthy dressing.

Get the recipe for Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette.

Winter Citrus Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

Three kinds of citrus give this crunchy salad a ton of fun flavors!

Get the recipe for Winter Citrus Salad.

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Simple Green Salad

Some Feta and mild green olives give this light side salad a lot of oomph. Get the freshest greens you can find and dress them simply in lemon and oil.

Get the recipe for Simple Green Salad.

Winter Greens Salad

Rosemary-Parm croutons, a citrus-maple dressing, and all our favorite winter greens—kale, chard, collards—give this salad enough heft that it'll easily hold its own with the turkey and mashed potatoes.

Get the recipe for Winter Greens Salad.

Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Looking for a way to add cornbread to the table? This'll do it.

Get the recipe for Southwest Salad.

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Grilled Mushroom Panzanella with Tomato Vinaigrette

Bread salad with a variety of toasty mushrooms—make this a part of your grilled Thanksgiving menu.

Get the recipe for Grilled Mushroom Panzanella.

Bibb Salad with Pickled Onion, Fennel, and Plums

Here's a light side salad that's nevertheless long on flavor.

Get the recipe for Bibb Salad with Pickled Onion.

Grilled Corn Salad with Feta, Walnuts, and Shallot

Corn is a Thanksgiving staple, but that doesn't mean that it has to be on the cob!

Get the recipe for Grilled Corn Salad.

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Grape Salad

Brown sugar and toasted pecans give this fruity salad some extra flavor and crunch.

Get the recipe for Grape Salad.

Chopped Salad

The purpose of a Thanksgiving salad is to give your guests a break from the heavier fare on the table. That's why we love the idea of dressing yours with a simple, tangy red wine vinaigrette, loading it with crunchy Persian cucumbers, and topping it all off with a smattering of local parsley, basil, and fennel.

Get the recipe for Chopped Salad.

Composed Waldorf Salad

Add color into your family's Thanksgiving dinner with this refined version of the classic Waldorf salad.

Get the recipe for Composed Waldorf Salad.

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Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette

This may be the ultimate Thanksgiving salad. Crispy roasted sprouts combine with mixed lettuce, crunchy apples, toasted almonds, and nutty asiago cheese, all topped with a sweet vinaigrette. Trust us, the bowl will quickly get emptied.

Get the recipe for Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad.

Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio

For those who enjoy bold flavors, this mix of bitter radicchio tamed with earthy mushrooms and a sweet balsamic dressing is the perfect celebration.

Get the recipe for Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio.

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (2024)

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Warm Apple Cider Dressing

Leek, Mushroom, and Escarole Salad

Escarole Salad with Oranges, Pistachios, and Pickled Onions

Roasted Pear, Sweet Potato, and Radicchio Salad

The Casa Wedge Salad

Big Green Winter Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Thanksgiving Kale Salad with Cranberries and Quinoa

Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

Winter Citrus Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

Simple Green Salad

Winter Greens Salad

Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Grilled Mushroom Panzanella with Tomato Vinaigrette

Bibb Salad with Pickled Onion, Fennel, and Plums

Grilled Corn Salad with Feta, Walnuts, and Shallot

Grape Salad

Chopped Salad

Composed Waldorf Salad

Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette

Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio

FAQs

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