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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » 10 Minute Recipes

    Leftover Turkey Salad

    Published: Dec 17, 2020 · Modified: Dec 6, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Leftover Turkey Salad with a text title overlay.


    If you have more leftover turkey than you know what to do with, then why not add it to this light and zesty turkey salad that will balance out all the traditional heavy Christmas food. This Leftover Turkey Salad is easy to adapt with whatever you have on hand, making it the perfect festive fridge raid salad.

    A bowl of turkey salad with sliced oranges on top.

    A nutrient dense base of spinach, rocket (arugula) and watercress mixed with a simple balsamic dressing, topped with beetroot, shredded leftover turkey, juicy clementines, avocado, goats cheese and pomegranate.

    This turkey salad is light and fresh and really has it all and it makes a nice change from all the usual festive food.

    Looking for some other festive recipes to try? Why not try our Cranberry Chicken, Mulled Apple Juice, or Christmas Cheesecake?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make leftover turkey salad - Step by step
    • What to serve with a turkey salad
    • Variations
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More salad recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A salad with a festive twist - Salads are for Christmas time too and the turkey and clementine add delicious festive flavours.
    • A delicious way to enjoy more fruit - We could all do with more fruit in our life, especially at Christmas time, and this turkey salad includes juicy oranges and some pomegranate too.
    • A great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken - Don't let any of that Christmas meat go to waste and use leftovers in this salad.
    • Easy to adapt with whatever you have in your fridge - Pretty much anything goes in this salad, so use what is in your fridge.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe laid out with text overlay labels.
    • Greens - We have used a mixture of spinach, rocket and watercress as we find it gives the salad a nice iron boost, but it has plenty of flavour too.
    • Beetroot - This gives lots of chunky texture to the salad. We just used store bought cooked beetroot (not pickled), however you could roast your own if you prefer. You could also swap it for roasted vegetables like in our Winter Salad.
    • Turkey - This recipes is a great opportunity to use up leftover turkey from your Christmas roast dinner. You could also use chicken instead. Try our Roast Turkey Breast or Slow Cooker Turkey Crown.
    • Dressing - You don't want the dressing to be too over powering, as the fruit gives this salad all the flavour. So we went with a simple balsamic dressing that compliments it well. It is just a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. You could add a little mustard too if you like.
    • Avocado - Not only does avocado add a nice pop of colour, but it adds some creaminess to it. You can leave it out if you aren't a fan of avocado though.
    • Clementines - We have used sweet and juicy clementines which add a real boost of flavour and adds to the dressing. They look stunning sliced on the salad too.
    • Pomegranate - It's not a Christmas salad without some pomegranate and they also add a burst of fruity flavour. We buy them just as the seeds to save time.
    • Pine nuts - If you want to add some extra texture to your turkey salad, then this is a good addition. Toasting them first really brings out the flavour. You could swap them for walnuts or pecans too.
    • Goat's cheese - Creamy and tangy goats cheese is the perfect finishing touch to this salad. You could use brie or stilton instead.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make leftover turkey salad - Step by step

    One: Toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until they start to brown.

    Pine nuts toasting in a frying pan.

    Two: Add the salad leaves to a mixing bowl. Cover with the dressing and add the turkey.

    Salad leaves and shredded turkey in a metal mixing bowl.

    Three: Add the beetroot, avocado, pomegranate seeds and clementines.

    Chopped, beetroot, cubed avocado, pomegranate seeds and sliced clementines added to the bowl.

    Four: Mix well. Serve with the pine nuts and goat's cheese.

    What to serve with a turkey salad

    This is a full meal by itself, so there isn't anything that we would really add to it. However, we would happily eat bread with everything. Why not try making our Homemade White Bread, Slow Cooker Bread, Easy Bagels or Cheesy Garlic Bread to go with this.

    You could even make some Sourdough Croutons to go on top.

    Sliced clementines and pomegranate seeds with goat's cheese and salad leaves.

    Variations

    This is a great fridge raid salad, as it is easy to adapt with whatever ingredients you have in your fridge. At Christmas time, we usually have a few different greens, fruit, meats and cheeses in the fridge and when it all needs using up, it goes in a salad. This is one of our favourites, as it is so light and fresh, with plenty of flavour.

    Leftover shredded turkey makes this salad nice and filling. However, if you you don't have turkey then you can use leftover Roast Chicken or leftover Roast Beef instead.

    Want to make this salad even more filling? You could add some leftover Roast Potatoes that have been heated through in a pan. You could also add some pasta, orzo, rice or giant couscous. This really is easy to adapt.

    A bowl of clementine salad in front of half a pomegranate.

    FAQs

    How to store leftover turkey salad

    This salad is made from leftovers, however once it is made up you can store it in an air tight container for up to 2 days as it hasn't been cooked again. If might start getting a little soggy.

    Can you use chicken instead?

    Yes, if you don't have leftover turkey, then you can use leftover chicken instead. You can also cook some chicken breast fresh and chop it up to add to the salad.

    Is turkey salad gluten free?

    Yes, this is a gluten free salad. Just be careful what salad dressing you use and make sure there is no cross contamination.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Make this turkey salad even more indulgent by grilling some bacon and chopping it up to add to this salad.
    • Grapes are also a nice addition to this salad, and we usually have lots leftover from the Christmas cheeseboard.
    • If you don't want all the ingredients to go purple from mixing with beetroot, then add it at the last minute.

    More salad recipes

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      Easy Pear Salad
    • Fattoush Salad in a round bowl.
      Fattoush Salad
    • Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad in a large round bowl.
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    If you’ve tried this leftover turkey salad, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Clementine and leftover turkey salad in a bowl topped with pine nuts and pomegranate seeds.

    Clementine and Leftover Turkey Salad

    By: Dannii
    This Leftover Turkey Salad is easy to adapt with whatever you have on hand, making it the perfect festive fridge raid salad.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    5 from 23 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Appetizer, Lunch
    Cuisine: British
    Prep: 10 mins
    Total: 10 mins
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 653kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
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    Meat
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    Sulphites
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    Ingredients

    • 120 g (4.25 oz) Salad leaves
    • 150 g (5.25 oz) Cooked beetroot - diced
    • 180 g (6.33 oz) Leftover turkey - shredded
    • 1 Avocado - sliced
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 3 Clementines - peeled and sliced
    • 25 g (2.5 tablespoon) Pine nuts
    • 30 g (2 tablespoon) Pomegranate jewels
    • 50 g (1.75 oz) Goat's cheese - crumbled

    Instructions

    • Toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until they start to brown.
      25 g Pine nuts
    • Add the salad leaves to a mixing bowl. Cover with the dressing and add the turkey.
      120 g Salad leaves, 2 tablespoon Olive oil, 2 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar, 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper, 180 g Leftover turkey
    • Add the beetroot, avocado, pomegranate seeds and clementines.
      150 g Cooked beetroot, 1 Avocado, 30 g Pomegranate jewels, 3 Clementines
    • Mix well.
    • Serve with the pine nuts and goat's cheese.
      50 g Goat's cheese

    Notes

    • Make this salad even more indulgent by grilling some bacon and chopping it up to add to this salad.
    • Grapes are also a nice addition to this salad, and we usually have lots leftover from the Christmas cheeseboard.
    • If you don't want all the ingredients to go purple from mixing with beetroot, then add it at the last minute.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 1374mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 1122IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 4mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Soniya

      December 18, 2020 at 5:11 pm

      Oh wow! What a excellent way to use leftovers Turkey! This looks amazing.. Can't wait to make it.

      Reply
    2. Anna Banana

      December 18, 2020 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      I'm actually making Turkey for Christmas and I'm going to make this salad afterwards. The dressing is to die for!

      Reply
    3. Toni

      December 18, 2020 at 3:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is such an amazing salad!! Everyone at my house enjoyed it!

      Reply
    4. Sonal

      December 18, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      I love the selection of all the ingredients in creating this beautiful salad. Sounds so delicious.

      Reply
    5. Jessica Formicola

      December 18, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, this is such a gorgeous salad! Definitely book marking for the next time I have leftover turkey!

      Reply
    6. Beth

      December 18, 2020 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! This looks so tasty! My husband is going to love this recipe! So excited to give this a try!

      Reply
    7. Elizabeth

      December 18, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      My kids love these wee jaffa oranges, they're so super easy to peel. Awesome leftover turkey recipe too - I'll be trying this one out soon!

      Reply
    8. Rachna Parmar

      December 18, 2020 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      I love salad recipe and this one is light and nice. Great use for leftover turkey.

      Reply
    9. Jamie

      December 17, 2020 at 10:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love how colorful and vibrant this salad looks! Definitely one I want to have as my lunch right now!

      Reply
    10. Cathleen

      December 17, 2020 at 10:17 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is so beautiful! And so perfect for the season too! Pinned to make later, thank you so much for the recipe :)

      Reply
    11. Anjali

      December 17, 2020 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      What a great idea for using up leftover turkey!! This salad looks absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    12. Jacqueline Debono

      December 17, 2020 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      This leftover turkey salad looks beautiful. I love your idea of adding bacon and/or grapes. Roasted grapes would also be delicious!

      Reply
    13. Irina

      December 17, 2020 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      I am in love with salad recipes with the virus note. I made this salad today: it was amazingly delicious. I think of using chicken instead of turkey next time. Will it work?

      Reply
    14. Luci

      December 17, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      I love this salad recipe for leftover turkey! It is so colorful and easy to throw together. I'm saving this salad recipe because I know I'll love it after Christmas!

      Reply
    15. Ana F

      December 17, 2020 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      I always get excited when citrus season comes around and buy a ton of clementines...now I know what to do with them! Thanks so much for this amazing recipe!

      Reply
    16. sherry brubaker

      December 17, 2020 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      I am one of those weird people that does not like to eat Thanksgiving leftovers as is. This is the PERFECT solution! The clementines really give it a nice season, but fresh twist!!

      Reply
    17. Priya Lakshminarayan

      December 17, 2020 at 4:57 pm

      5 stars
      Love how colorful and yum this salad looks using leftovers! Wow!

      Reply
    18. Jess

      December 17, 2020 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best recipe for all my leftover Turkey! Love the clementines and the toasted pine nuts!

      Reply

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