Turkey, Wild Rice and Cranberry Salad Recipe 🦃🍚🥗
Overview:
This delightful Turkey, Wild Rice, and Cranberry Salad is a perfect solution for utilizing leftover turkey, especially during the festive season! Created with love and inspired by my friend Gail’s culinary prowess, this salad brings together the comforting flavors of turkey, the earthy goodness of wild rice, and the tart sweetness of cranberries, all tossed in a zesty dressing that ties everything together beautifully.
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Calories per Serving: 314.1
- Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)
- Review Count: 2
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 3 cups | Water |
| 1 cup | Wild rice |
| 1/2 tsp | Salt |
| 1 cup | Cranberries |
| 1 tbsp | Sugar |
| 1/2 cup | Carrot (diced) |
| 1/4 cup | Olive oil |
| 2 tbsp | Fresh lemon juice |
| 1 clove | Garlic (minced) |
| 1 cup | Cooked turkey (diced) |
| 1 stalk | Celery (chopped) |
| 1/2 cup | Fresh parsley (chopped) |
| 1/2 cup | Red onion (finely chopped) |
| 1/4 cup | Raisins |
| Green leaf lettuce (for serving) |
Instructions:
-
Cook Wild Rice:
- In a heavy medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water, wild rice, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a boil.
- Cover the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, which takes about 55 minutes.
- Once cooked, allow the rice to cool completely, then set it aside.
-
Prepare Cranberries:
- In another heavy small saucepan, combine the cranberries and 1 tablespoon of water.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the cranberries just begin to soften, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add the sugar and continue cooking over high heat until the sugar is dissolved, and the cranberries are tender, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the cranberries to a plate and refrigerate until chilled.
-
Steam Carrots:
- Steam the diced carrots until they are crisp-tender, which usually takes about 4 minutes.
- Rinse the steamed carrots with cold water to cool them down.
-
Prepare Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and minced garlic until well blended.
- Season the dressing with salt and pepper according to your taste.
-
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked wild rice, steamed carrots, diced turkey, chopped celery, fresh parsley, finely chopped red onion, and raisins.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients and toss everything together until well coated.
- Add the chilled cranberries and toss the salad thoroughly to incorporate all the flavors.
- The salad can be prepared up to 8 hours ahead. Simply cover it and refrigerate until ready to serve.
-
Serve:
- Line 6 plates with fresh green leaf lettuce leaves.
- Divide the Turkey, Wild Rice, and Cranberry Salad among the plates and serve chilled.
- Enjoy this hearty and flavorful salad as a satisfying lunch or snack, perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a cozy winter meal, a festive Christmas dinner, or a casual weeknight gathering!
Nutritional Information:
- Calories: 314.1 per serving
- Fat Content: 14g
- Saturated Fat Content: 2.6g
- Cholesterol Content: 38.6mg
- Sodium Content: 254.9mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 32.2g
- Fiber Content: 3.5g
- Sugar Content: 8.4g
- Protein Content: 16.3g
Enjoy the delightful combination of flavors and textures in this Turkey, Wild Rice, and Cranberry Salad, a wholesome dish that’s sure to impress your family and friends!