Recipe for turkey salad with grapes and walnuts
Though I'm always interested in new things to make with holiday leftovers, I love the classics, and this turkey salad with grapes and walnuts is a classic-in-the-making. Nothing complicated here. Just a basic, really good salad of turkey cut into big chunks, with a sharp vinaigrette, a kind of Waldorf salad send-up. In case, like me, you're too tired to do any more fancy cooking after preparing the holiday meal, marshalling the kitchen helpers and table setters, and overseeing the clean-up contingent, know that you can count on this salad on the day after, or any day.
Turkey salad with grapes and walnuts
From the pantry, you'll need: walnuts, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, kosher salt, fresh black pepper.
Serves 4.
Ingredients
3 cups diced cooked turkey (I use a store-bought rotisserie turkey breast when I don't have Thanksgiving leftovers on hand)
1/2 cup halved red seedless grapes
1/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
For the dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp chopped fresh tarragon leaves
Kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
Directions
Gently toss the turkey, grapes, celery and walnuts together in a large mixing bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Combine the dressing with the turkey mixture.
Make this a couple of hours or up to one day ahead, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Turkey and cheese in puff pastry
Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with turkey and chipotle mayo
Chicken or turkey fried rice
Grilled chicken or broccoli slaw wraps
Grilled chicken salad
Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Herb roasted turkey breast, from What We're Eating
Turkey Cuban panini, from Panini Happy
Curried turkey salad with apples, cranberries and walnuts, from Pinch My Salt
Brown rice salad with leftover turkey, red cabbage and pecans, from Kalyn's Kitchen
Turkey salad with lemon, capers, mustard and cornichons, from David Lebovitz
Posted by: Kalyn | November 22, 2011 at 10:01 AM
This is definitely my kind of leftover turkey recipe! (And how about *this* turkey salad in a pita with my Cranberry Salsa. Too bad we don't live next door to each other.)
Posted by: Jamie | November 22, 2011 at 10:08 AM
I really love this recipe! It is so simple yet really does have everything - sweet grapes, crunchy nuts and a sharp vinaigrette. No turkey here but maybe a good roasted chicken. This does away with the boring!
Posted by: Curt | November 22, 2011 at 10:35 AM
A great leftover idea. And it looks delicious!
Posted by: Barbara | Creative Culinary | November 22, 2011 at 10:57 AM
I look as forward to the leftovers as I do the turkey...no, wait...more. My favorite chicken salad is so similar and wondering why I've never utilized that ton of turkey for it. I will now!
Posted by: Carolyn | November 22, 2011 at 11:18 AM
A great way to use up the leftovers!
Posted by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) | November 22, 2011 at 01:53 PM
Kalyn, I can't wait to try your cranberry salsa recipe (probably this weekend), and yes, it would be perfect with this chicken salad.
Jamie, leftover roasted chicken would be great here. And it doesn't have to be for Thanksgiving, either!
Curt, thanks. Simple, but this salad always works for me after the heavier meals of the holiday.
Barbara, I actually know people who buy turkeys much larger than they need, just to be sure there's plenty left over.
Carolyn, thanks. I think the tangy dressing really works here.
Posted by: carol, boston @cabinetstew | November 22, 2011 at 02:16 PM
I say why just for leftovers... I think this is a perfect "ladies luncheon", bridal shower sandwich,etc but no matter when - this is a great recipe.
Posted by: Jeanette | November 22, 2011 at 03:35 PM
After a whole day or days of cooking for the big Thanksgiving meal, this easy recipe using the leftovers is going to be very welcome. Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) | November 22, 2011 at 05:07 PM
Carol, you're so right. I make this with rotisserie turkey or chicken when I don't have leftovers.
Jeanette, I've been cooking for days for the guests who are staying Wednesday through Sunday, so after cooking "the big meal", I'm happy for some easy leftovers recipes.
Posted by: Amy | November 23, 2011 at 07:43 AM
This would be a great recipe to make with the leftovers from Thansgiving and it would be easy to make and tasty.
Posted by: Zesty Cook | November 23, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Great way to use those leftovers! Totally different and fresh. I also agree with Carol...this is also a good "anytime" dish, too!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Sarah | November 26, 2011 at 11:45 AM
There used to be a deli in my town that made a chicken salad with grapes and a poppy seed dressing. It isn't around anymore and this post reminded me of how good that salad was. Now I know what to do with some of these leftovers. Thanks!
Posted by: vanillasugarblog | November 27, 2011 at 08:37 PM
we have no turkey leftovers as we had sushi for dinner. :-)
BUT i do make this salad all the time and wanted to say to you if you have a trader joe's near you, pick up their spicy pecans and use them in this salad. So good. Adds a nice layer to it all.
Posted by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) | November 27, 2011 at 11:08 PM
Amy, that's just what I had in mind!
Zesty Cook, I really love turkey salad (and chicken salad), at any time of year.
Sarah, poppy seed dressing would be good on this, though I confess I'm not a huge fan of poppy seeds.
Vanillasugar, there's a Trader Joe's now in Warwick, which is half an hour from me. I'll look for the spicy pecans next time I'm there. Thanks.
Posted by: Doglas | October 28, 2012 at 07:37 PM
Perfect for this coming Thanksgiving, I' am so glad that a leftover turkey will do because we always got leftover turkey which we really planned for us to create an another dish day after thanksgiving.