This Smoked Turkey Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette is delicious, fast and fresh! It’s healthy and full of flavor!
Let’s face it folks, after those indulgent Cinnamon Raisin Rolls on Monday, a little detox may be in order. Ya think?
I don’t know about you guys, but when there’s a plate of warm cinnamon rolls around, all self-control goes right out the window. Whoooosh! I just can’t help myself. But don’t get nervous. When I say detox, I’m not thinking along the lines of drinking our next meal or a serving of dreaded cabbage soup. Let’s not get crazy.
I’m thinking we need some lighter comfort food. Something that’s fast, easy and fresh. Something that we can whip up in 20 minutes or less that’s filled with delicious, healthy ingredients. Well, hello there Smoked Turkey Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette. Perfect timing!
Guys… you won’t believe how easy this salad is to whip up AND how incredibly flavorful it is. First, to cut down on calories we omit the bread and use butter lettuce instead. Second, we don’t use any mayo. It’s tossed in a light honey Dijon vinaigrette. Just add your cubed smoked turkey, red and yellow pepper, dried cranberries, chopped pecans and parsley to a large bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Pop it in the fridge for a few hours to let the flavors blend together, and when you’re ready to serve place a scoop of the salad on top of a lettuce leaf. How easy is that? And how nice and healthy? Just what we need after one cinnamon roll too many! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked smoked turkey cubed
- 1/2 cup red pepper finely chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow pepper finely chopped
- 1/3 cup pecans roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- 6-8 butter lettuce leaves
- Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine turkey, red and yellow pepper, pecans, cranberries and parsley. Mix well.
- Make dressing: Combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake vigorously.
- Toss salad with some of the dressing. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- To serve, place a lettuce leaf on each plate and top with a scoop of the salad.
Lovely salad and love smoked turkey and that vinaigrette! And yes, it’s all about balance, so we can continue to eat sweet rolls ;)
Thanks Jennifer! This salad is so easy and has so many textures. Hope you give it a try!
I love anything in lettuce leaves! Hubby and I eat lettuce wraps on the regular and this is perfect! With all those delicious flavours of turkey, cranberries and pecans ain’t no way that this is going to taste like I’m not eating something so awesomely indulgent and satisfying. But, I think I’m still gonna want a cinnamon roll too….hehehe. They’re too good! Pinned! Have a great weekend, Mary Ann! xo
Me too Dawn! I’ve been trying really hard to cut down on my bread intake. It’s tough, but I love lettuce cups! Enjoy and thanks for pinning! Hope your weekend is wonderful too! XO
This looks fantastic – and I love how colorful it is, too! We buy unsliced turkey breasts from Costco, which means a TON of turkey sandwiches (since there are only two of us); I hadn’t thought of cubing it up to put in salads like this, but this recipe will be great to help us change things up!
I get the turkey breast from Costco too Mara! I go for this turkey salad and my husband Tom loves it for open faced hot turkey sandwiches. Happy weekend!
Lol! It’s not just you Mary Ann, I think every person…well, every sane person with a belly and eyes.. loses all self control around warm cinnamon rolls! :) I have been on a lettuce wrap kick recently, so this post has me all sorts of excited! Love the flavors and textures going on here and the vinaigrette sounds perfect! I will definitely be making these soon! Pinned! Cheers!
hen you’ll definitely need to try this salad Chey! Light and tasty! Happy weekend. XO
You are so right May Ann, it is all about balance . Your salad looks delicious and wholesome. The dressing looks fantastic .
Thanks so much Gerlinde! It’s nice and light and healthy!
Moderation is the key to life! Cinnamon rolls one day, lettuce wraps the next! I love the flavors and presentation of this salad!
Yes it is Annie! Thanks! Lots of great textures going on in this salad!
Well this looks fantastic! It reminds me of cowboy caviar. :) A perfect weekday lunch or picnic fare and I bet it would be awesome wrapped up in a tortilla to go. Yum!
Yes, it actually does Marissa! It would be perfect wrapped up in a tortilla!
I love the look of this!! So fresh and healthy. Perfect for spring (although spring definitely ain’t here yet for me!).
It really is perfect for spring Natasha! I need to be eating more foods like this to get in shape for summer! It will be here before we all know it!
So many different layers to this, what an awesome salad!
Thanks Matt! I was in need of something healthy!
Love how fresh and easy these are! The lettuce and mayo swaps are right up my alley and that dressing is perfection!
Thanks Gina! Yes, the bread and mayo are just added calories! The lettuce and light dressing work out perfectly!
This looks perfectly light and delicious Mary Ann — love it!! xoxo
Thanks Rebecca! I love this one around Thanksgiving too!
I have zero self control with cinnamon rolls. I think I would feel the same with your turkey salad!
Go for it Rachelle! It’s ok to lose control with this one!
So pretty! I love these flavors and the lightness of the recipe!
Thanks Tieghan! I love the textures in this salad too!
Smoked turkey was my FAVE growing up. This is the perfect way to enjoy it as an adult :)
I agree Sarah! Nice and healthy!
Sign me up! delicious, fast and fresh and healthy is what I want!!
You’re in Alice!
I love this light and flavorful salad! A little detox is in order over here, and this would be just perfect to have on hand for lunch :)
There’s always a little detox needed over here Laura! Hope you enjoy this one if you give it a try!
Yes, this is my kind of detox. I love the perfect cups of beautiful ingredients. I wish I could get my kids to eat bell peppers, but even if I omit it for them, this is a great dinner. Looking forward to trying this great energy food (although I think just looking at those cinnamon buns gave me an instant boost).
Min too Cindy! I seem to need more detoxing as I get older! UGH! Wish the cinnamon buns were on the detox menu!
This salad looks amazing…..almost as good as those cinnamon rolls! :) I love a great salad and when it’s quick, easy and delicious it just doesn’t get any better….except when you add healthy to it! This looks so full of flavor and I don’t think I’d even miss the mayo or bread!
No, I don’t think you will Kathy! Hope you enjoy it!
Who can hate healthy eating when you’re serving up delectable recipes like this Mary Ann? Love the look of this!
Thanks Alida! I need more healthy ones like this right now.
Everything about this recipe sounds awesome – a nice hearty salad. But seriously, your presentation is off the hook. I never thought of salad as “cute” but you’ve challenged this perception.
Thanks so much Jessie! Your compliment has made my day! Xo
Love that you turned these into lettuce wraps- what a refreshing twist. And I bet that honey dijon goes with so many different things. The perfect thing to balance out those cinnamon rolls. ;)
Yes, Emily! I am trying to leave out the bread. I may even try to give it up totally for Lent!
Love the pecan addition in here, these are perfect!
Thanks Kevin! All different textures going on!