Have any ideas for aThanksgiving salad without lettuce?

Question

I have decided that I will make a salad for Thanksgiving without using lettuce. It will be part of a normal traditional Thanksgiving meal. Initially, I am thinking it should have dried cranberries in it, but wanted to get all of your ideas.

I am leaving out the lettuce just to make it be different.

Answer 1

How about a spinach, cranberry, walnut salad with goat cheese and chopped red onions? It can be served with cranberry vinegrette.

I know the onions sound like a strange ingredient, but they add a complimentary flavor. You can also leave them out :)

Answer 2

You can make a salad with cucumbers and tomatoes,
cabbage coleslaw is a different type of salad, bean salad is another. Then there is pasta/macaroni salad.
If you make a carrot salad the following can be added for a change:
1.-Add some raisins-this is the most popular addition to this salad. this is also where your cranberries can be substituted.
2.-Add some chopped apple and/or pineapple Crushed pineapple blends well and really sweetens it up.
3.-Don't want to add any fruit? Try some chopped almonds,pecans, or sunflower seeds-a great way to add a little crunch and flavour.
4.-Add a little lemon juice to the mix, not too much though.
5.- Try substituting sour cream or yogurt for the mayonnaise. This will go great if you have added any fruit.

Answer 3

Hi so you want a quick tasty salad ....it's so easy...if you have some herbs on hand. and cheese. Each day of the week you can take the same ingredients and make the salad have a different flavor. Start out with Lettuce, tomato, sweet onion, then depending on what ethnic group you have a taste for add these ingredients: Italian: basil, oregano, flat leaf parsley and Parmesan cheese wine vinegar and olive oil salt and grinding of pepper. Greek: black olives, feta cheese cucumbers oil and vinegar dressing American: shredded mild cheddar cheese, green pepper sliced and chopped, shredded carrots and French dressing You can also make this a main dish by adding chopped cooked meats, leftover boiled shrimp, roasted chicken, fried bacon... that are leftover and sliced boiled eggs. good luck, Mama Jazzy Geri

Answer 4

I make a salad using

baby spinach leaves (uncooked)
slices of baked Kumara (orange sweet potato)
strips of roasted red capsicum (peppers)
sun dried tomatoes

Everything is warm when tossed into the baby spinach leaves which are at room temperature. I always get compliments on this salad.

You could add the cranberries to this and leave out the tomatoes or just use everything. My sister-in -law also adds Kalamata olives and shaved Parmesan cheese.

Answer 5

If spinach doesn't count as lettuce: try a spinach salad with orange segments, pomegranate seeds and caramelized pecans. For the dressing you can do a sweet vinaigrette or even a Chinese chicken salad dressing. If you want to forgo traditional, I think this salad feels like fall, but doesn't contain traditional ingredients.

Answer 6

Agree with SkyLight -> serve the, old, "classic":
Waldorf salad (apples, celery and walnuts) - cranberries would be, really, good added to this! See link below for other versions (some with cranberries). I think there's a Snappy Cranberry salad, elsewhere, on this site (use search box for this ...).

Answer 7

A waldorf salad would be very good, plus I think adding cranberries sounds very good. It has fresh apples, celery (left over from making dressing) walnuts, and a sweetish mayonnasie dressing. Check online for recipes.

Answer 8

I don't have the recipe handy, but you could try a Waldorf Salad

Basically:

Chopped Apple
Walnuts
Raisins (dried cranberrys may work, too)
celery

mix in some mayo (with a little bit of sugar)...

Answer 9

Cranberry Apple Salad--
http://www.recipezaar.com/44037
Cranberry Couscous Salad--
http://www.recipezaar.com/204462

The couscous salad sounds good to me!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Answer 10

try a pasta salad instead just leave the lettuce out.cook a package of spaghetti noodles rinse well with cold water.place in bowl add 1chopped,diced green pepper,add a pack of washed rinsed radishes thinly sliced,add 2 large tomatoes washed well and diced in small pieces,add i can mushrooms that are well drained and rinsed.if you like olives you may add 1 can of drained olives.mix with a large bottle of zesty Italian dressing and chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight.before serving add 1 12 ounce bag shredded cheese or little blocks of your favorite cheese either cheddar or Colby jack mix.toss well and serve.