19 Salads To Veg Up Your Thanksgiving Spread
By the time the turkey and sides are in the oven—you know, dishes that require the cooking and heavy lifting—it can be a little difficult to feel inspired about putting a gorgeous and tasty plate of greens on the table. We're here to help with that! Whether it's a hearty, roasted root salad that can knock a couple of sides off the menu, or a simple bowl of perfectly dressed cold-weather greens, here are some deliciously easy ways to add some crunch to the Thanksgiving table.
Tender Kale, Asian Pear And Butternut Squash Salad
An autumn salad, but with an Asian-Canadian twist. The dressing, made by blending fried shallots, imparts a delicious roasty flavour to every ingredient it clings to. Get Jannell Lo's tender kale, Asian pear and butternut squash salad recipe.
Jicama And Orange Salad
This tart and juicy salad comes together in minutes and acts as a zippy counterpoint to richer dishes. There’s no oil or emulsifier to dress the salad; make it immediately before serving. Chilling the produce just before prep is a nice touch. Get Chantal Braganza's jicama and orange salad recipe.
Alison Roman’s Celery Salad With Anchovy
While the bulk here is, of course, celery, this perfect little salad also has anchovies, garlic, pickled peppers, and vinegar. It’s a little (but not too) spicy and—as the name indicates—salty. Eat it on its own with poached chicken breast for lunch, or with an open can of tuna and a pile of saltine crackers. Get Alison Roman's celery salad with anchovy recipe.
Warm Roasted Pear and Fennel Salad by Suzanne Barr
Potlucks are meant for reunions, weekend catch-ups and last-minute gatherings. They’re an opportunity to share your love of cooking and offer a crowd-pleasing dish. Keep it simple, or bring a showstopper that everyone will want the recipe for. Enjoy the bounty of this salad, featuring end-of-season pears and crisp fennel. It will become one of your new staples and have everyone licking their plate and asking for more. Get this roasted pear and fennel salad recipe.
Broccoli And Grape Salad
Roasting the broccoli and some of the grapes dials up the flavour and texture in this classic salad. Get our broccoli and grape salad recipe.
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Spiced Carrot Orange Slaw
Shredded carrots and juicy orange chunks are mixed with a spice-infused dressing and nutty toasted sesame seeds in this easy slaw, which is inspired by North African flavours. Get this spiced carrot-orange slaw recipe.
Mushroom Salad with Fennel And Goat Cheese
Elevate your salad game by adding garlicky mushrooms and croutons. Get this mushroom salad recipe.
Lemon-Roasted Sweet Potato & Beet Salad With Pickled Red Onions & Pecans
"Around the same time that I was developing this recipe, we were planning the menu to cater a friend’s wedding. The beautiful combination of colourful vegetables in this recipe, coupled with the ease of their make-ahead nature, inspired us to make this the starter course for the wedding. If we can make 150 people happy with this salad, I know you’ll love to serve it to your family or friends." Get Anna Olson's lemon-roasted sweet potato and beet salad with pickled red onions and pecans recipe.
Cherry Salad With Olives And Walnuts
Dark sweet cherries, salty sun-dried olives, soaked walnuts and parsley are tossed with vinegar and oil for an intense combination that can top anything from creamy ricotta to pork tenderloin or make a unique addition to a charcuterie board. Get our cherry salad with olives and walnuts recipe.
Roasted Squash Salad with Marinated Bean Dressing
Crunchy seeds, warm squash and crisp arugula make this salad textural delight. Get this squash salad recipe.
Pear And Watercress Salad
Pears, goat cheese, radicchio and walnuts make this your go-to side salad all winter long. Can't find watercress? You can also use arugula. Get our pear and watercress salad recipe.
Greek Potato Salad with Roasted Red Peppers
This mayo-less potato salad—complete with salty feta and a refreshing lemony dressing—will delight your tastebuds. Get this Greek potato salad with roasted red peppers recipe.
Wheat Berry, Kale And Cranberry Salad
This filling plant-based salad is simple, delicious, and rich in vitamins—what’s not to love? Get this wheatberry salad recipe.
Fig and Radicchio Salad
This fresh and fruity salad features fig, pomegranate and toasted hazelnuts — a fall fantasy. Get this fig salad recipe.
Winter Waldorf Salad
Packed with roasted fruits and nuts, this refreshing salad is bursting with flavour. Get this winter Waldorf salad recipe.
Mint Cauliflower Tabbouleh
Crumbled cauliflower replaces the traditional bulgur in this hearty salad. Get our mint cauliflower tabbouleh recipe.
Winter Green Salad
This vinaigrette has a few more ingredients to pair with the bitter winter greens (notably, the honey). You might want to double or triple the recipe—it’s a great staple to keep in the fridge all week. Get this winter green salad recipe.
Roasted Fennel With Orange Dressing
Save your fennel fronds for this citrus-scented dish that makes a great side or salad. Get our roasted fennel with orange dressing recipe.
Roasted Beet Salad with Tahini Dressing
This insanely colourful salad is a breeze to make, but, if you want to save time, you can buy pre-roasted beets at the store. Get our roasted beet salad with tahini dressing recipe.
Apple And Walnut Super-Crunch Salad
This crunchy salad adds a light and zesty serving of vegetables to the table in advance of the main event. Get our apple and walnut super-crunch salad recipe.
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