If you’re not ready to say goodbye to Thanksgiving food just yet, I’ve got you covered. You’ll love this cranberry turkey salad with wheat berries! Let’s put those Thanksgiving leftovers to good use, shall we?
It’s full of crave-worthy autumn flavors, plus amazing textures and a delicious cranberry vinaigrette. It really is a win on all levels.
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If you’re like most people in the U.S. today, you’re working your way through some serious leftover turkey. While I do love a good leftover turkey and cranberry sandwich, this recipe is a nice way to mix it up. 🙂
Here are more tasty recipe ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers to try! This cozy turkey rice soup is especially perfect for using up leftover turkey.
Besides the leftover turkey and homemade cranberry sauce (which is utilized in the form of an awesome vinaigrette), the other star of this recipe is the wheat berries.
What’s a wheat berry?
Are y’all wheat berry fans, too? Here is what they look like:
Wheat berries are among my favorite whole grains because of their great texture – nice and chewy! They make a wonderful salad topper or grain-based dish, as done here.
Wheat berries are whole, unprocessed wheat kernels in their most natural form. They are extremely nutritious because they contain the germ and bran, which are the components of grains that are often (sadly) removed in processing.
That’s why “whole” grains are always the best choice vs. a refined option – they contain a much higher level of nutrients and fiber since their hearty outer layer is still there!
Wheat berries aren’t super fast to cook – they need to simmer for about 45 to 50 minutes – so anytime I make them I make a LOT.
Yay for leftover grains to throw on salads later on in the week!
Cranberry Turkey Salad Ingredients
For this recipe, wheat berries are paired with tart granny smith apples, crunchy toasted pecans, and leftover turkey to make a delicious grain-based salad.
The cranberry vinaigrette is a variation on my standard favorite balsamic vinaigrette. It’s made using my leftover homemade cranberry sauce in place of lemon juice! So good.
How to Serve Leftover Turkey & Wheat Berry Salad
This salad is great alone or you can toss it atop some greens (arugula would be tasty!) for extra veggie power. To add even more awesomeness, consider topping the salad with some cheese – crumbled blue, feta, or goat cheese go well here.
Without further ado – the recipe for cranberry turkey salad with wheat berries is at the bottom of this post. Hope you love it, too!
Looking for more tasty, autumn-inspired recipes? Check these out:
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash with Cranberries
- Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
- Butternut Squash Turkey Chili
- Cranberry Orange Bread
- Fall Harvest Salad with Watermelon
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with Applesauce
Leftover Thanksgiving Cranberry Turkey Salad with Wheat Berries
This quick and easy recipe features leftover turkey and cranberry sauce and makes the perfect healthy lunch after the Thanksgiving holiday!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups dry wheat berries
- 2 cups cubed leftover turkey
- 1 large granny smith apple, diced
- 1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
Cranberry vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons leftover cranberry sauce
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: crumbled blue/feta/goat cheese
Instructions:
- Place the wheat berries in a large pot, cover generously with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 45-50 minutes, until tender. Strain wheat berries and set aside.
- Chop turkey, apple, pecans, and parsley and add to wheat berries.
- Make the cranberry vinaigrette: whisk the cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and dijon mustard together in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add dressing to the grain salad and toss evenly to coat. Top with cheese (blue cheese, feta, or goat cheese work well here) if desired.
- Serve as is or atop greens!
