Do you like to meal prep? I know chicken is a popular item to cook ahead of time and have on hand for the week but turkey and its deeper richer flavor is also a great option. This Gluten Free Cherry Turkey Salad with Fennel will have you looking forward to lunch as well as leftover turkey.
As much as everyone loves the beauty that is roast turkey, it seems the next day leftover turkey sandwich is an event unto itself. Whether it's a classic deli type sandwich or one that includes all the leftovers and kitchen sink it's popular for a reason.
Ingredients Matter
Gluten Free Cherry Turkey Salad with Fennel calls for two cups of turkey. This is a perfect way to reinvent your leftover roasted or smoked turkey. Your turkey itself will bring its own unique flavor profile to the base of this fresh salad. Depending upon how you seasoned it, you might get more herbaceous notes, or a pop of citrus.
One of the stars of this sweet and savory salad is cherries. You want to pick cherries that are at the peak of ripeness. They are going to add not only texture, but that sweet tangy tart pop of flavor.
Fennel is another leading player in this elegant salad. The sweet anise/licorice flavor will add both depth and texture. When choosing your fennel bulbs at the store you want to make sure the bulbs are tight, have little to no bruising, are white, and the bottoms aren't brown.
Gluten Free Cherry Turkey Salad with Fennel, All of the Possibilities
While filling a sandwich with this fresh turkey salad might be your first instinct, the possibilities of how to serve this are endless. This is the perfect topping to a bed of mixed greens for a quick yet elegant lunch.
Love wraps? Fill your favorite Gluten Free wrap with this salad. For an update on a classic, this would be perfect in a stuffed tomato. For a low carb option this is also a great filling for lettuce wraps.
The only question is, how are you serving your Gluten Free Cherry Turkey Salad with Fennel? Looking for more lunch ideas? Make sure you check out my recipe for Turkey Meatloaf Sliders with Tomato Chutney.
Gluten Free Cherry Turkey Salad with Fennel
Ingredients
- 2 cups turkey, cubed
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp citrus vinegar
- 1 cup cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and sliced
- 1 ½ tsp fresh thyme, chopped
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, Dijon, vinegar, salt and pepper to a bowl. Stir to fully combine.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and toss to evenly coat in the dressing. Allow to chill before serving. Enjoy!
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