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I roasted some butternut squash for this instead of mango and the whole thing was delicious! An awesome Meatless Monday recipe my husband and I loved.
Sara
Arugula and red onions and cashews and dried cranberries and wild rice and lemon dressing, comin in hot. ♡
I mean, wow! Already? Tis the season!
When it comes to Thanksgiving, there are two types: the type who makes a turkey, and the type who brings a salad. Do I even need to tell you which type I am? Bjork’s aunt called us yesterday and asked if I would rather bring a salad or a vegetable side. umm, HELLO. How could I ever NOT bring a salad? It is my Thanksgiving destiny. I have a feeling that so many of us are twinning on this issue.
Having lived the last 8 years as the resident Thanksgiving salad-bringer in my family, I’m not too humble to let you know that my crowd-pleasing holiday salad game is STRONG, friends. I have nothing for you when it comes to beautifully roasted whole turkeys. Nuh-thing. Like, I wouldn’t even know where to buy a turkey or what kind to buy or how to, like, do whatever it is you need to do with a turkey.
My zone of genius lies between the layers of curly arugula and the chewy wild rice and the quick lemon jar dressing. Year after year after year (👵🏼), my people come to me for the salad.
A quick note of encouragement to the salad bringers: we WILL stand in the spotlight and make turkeys for our families someday. I know that we will. We’ll wear fun Thanksgiving aprons (er, will we?) and we’ll have absolutely no last minute kitchen mishaps whatsoever and Thanksgiving angels will be singing and they’ll put us on the cover of a super domestic-y magazine for our Thanksgiving turkey prowess. GOALS, team. Goals. 🏅
But until then, what Thanksgiving asks of us is to bring a really delicious, colorful, medium-healthy (but not SO healthy that it tastes healthy) S-A-L-A-D to the table, and actually, the responsibility here is heavier than it seems. Think about it: we are charged with offering the single item on the Thanksgiving menu that has any redeeming nutritional value, and unlike mashed potatoes which are universally appealing whether you’re the three-year-old or the grandpa, one size doesn’t automatically fit all when it comes to salads.
If you’re new to the Thanksgiving salad bringing game, I’ll just warn you – there will be some food bias. We will face harsher prejudice than most other dishes on the table. Green bean casserole – obligatory favorite. Turkey – traditional favorite. Mashed potatoes – always a favorite, always always always, no matter what. Because gravy.
Do you see salad anywhere on that list? That’s what I mean. A lot of people THINK they don’t like a Thanksgiving salad.
And you’re going to prove them wrong, because here you come with your chewy, colorful, multi-textured salad tossed with the lightest and most simply flavored lemon + olive oil dressing, and hmm? what’s that? They want SECONDS?
Awyeahhh. Glory moment.
They won’t even know what hit them.
Okay, let’s note a few things here.
MANGOS: I strategically left that small detail out of the initial description because it’s weird and I didn’t want you to leave yet. But yes, there are mangos in this salad. I realize that mangos don’t exactly scream “Thanksgiving!” and I normally make this Thanksgiving salad with regular old Thanksgiving-style red apples, but this year I was working on a project that involved mangos at the same time I was prepping this recipe, so I decided to just throw some in the salad and OMGOSH it was amazing. If you’re willing to step outside the box on this one, I would recommend slightly underripe mangos – the ones that are just a little more firm and tart. It doesn’t feel mango-y as much as it feels like an awesome texture and flavor combination with the arugula, wild rice, and dried cranberries. 👌 Plus, SO PRETTY. The colors here are on point.
But if you’re not digging the mango thing, this Thanksgiving salad can basically be one million combinations. Just about every category can be swapped for something else. I would recommend keeping the lemon dressing as-is (not much can replicate that fresh lemon and orange juice with tasty olive oil and salt + pepp) but let’s take a look at the breakdown in very general terms. This is basically a Thanksgiving salad formula.
GREENS: you could use spinach, arugula, kale, shaved brussels sprouts (while we’re on that topic, see also: my favorite Thanksgiving brussels sprout salad ever), or other
GRAINS: you could use wild rice, quinoa, brown rice, farro, amaranth, freekeh, or other
NUTS: you could use cashews, pecans, walnuts, pistachios (fave), almonds, or other
FRUIT: you could use mangos, apples, grapes, oranges, pears, or other
EXTRAS: you could use sliced red onions, dried cranberries, goat cheese, feta cheese, crunchy fried onions (ugh, ridiculously good), or other
Alright, team! Power to the Thanksgiving salad!
I’ll be cheering you on from my Thanksgiving table this year as I help myself to another serving of wild rice salad thank u very much. ♡
Thanksgiving Salad with Wild Rice and Lemon Dressing
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 as a side 1x
Description
Easy Thanksgiving Salad – arugula, wild rice, cashews, dried cranberries, red onions, and a lemon dressing that shakes up easily in a jar.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Dressing
- juice of one orange
- juice of one lemon
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- agave or honey to taste (optional)
For the Salad
- about 4–5 cups arugula, spinach, or a greens blend
- about 2 cups cooked wild rice
- about 2 cups chopped mangos
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup sliced red onions
- minced fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Shake all dressing ingredients together in a jar with a tight lid until smooth. Taste it and add more salt and pepper as needed (without enough salt and pepper, it will be bland, so s&p generously).
- Arrange or toss the salad ingredients together in a bowl, reserving a few slices of red onion to arrange over the top for looks. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine. Serve immediately after putting the dressing on the salad (or save everything separately and assemble just before serving).
Notes
If going sugar free is important to you, make sure to omit the dried cranberries or sub in a sugar-free dried fruit.
Also good on this salad: apples, grapes, pecans, walnuts, feta cheese, goat cheese, white cheddar cheese (especially with apples), quinoa, farro, etc.
The wild rice tastes best in this salad when you cook it in something other than just water. I like to cook mine in part water, part vegetable or chicken stock. Also – I recommend making the wild rice the day before and refrigerating it overnight so you’re not dealing with hot wild rice wilting your greens as you toss it together in the salad bowl.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: thanksgiving salad, wild rice salad, lemon dressing
Excellent recipe! Normally the salad is hardly touched at Thanksgiving dinner. Not only was this enjoyed, guests went for seconds. I made again for a holiday party and bowl was empty and people requested the recipe. I made the mistake of adding all of the dressing the first time which was too much. Add a little at a time until your salad seems dressed properly.
Glad to hear you and your guests enjoyed the salad, Vicki! Thanks for the dressing tip, too! 🙂
I’m worried that my rice will be to hard if I cook prior and then add right before we serve? Is this not the case as long as I don’t refrigerate it?
Well! I have just found my twin! You! You get my love of salad and Thanksgiving in one. Such a delight to read your write up as I scrolled thru to the recipe.
Living in Australia where Thanksgiving arrives as our weather heats up, salad is the perfect addition to our friends celebration of home. So now I feel like a pro turning up with a delicious salad at Thanksgiving. Cheers!
Loved this! Made it for a friends-giving and it was delicious. Super easy to make and the leftovers are even good!
I made a version of this tonight! Was so good!
Made this for a brunch this morning. The mango I had was bad, so I had to sub in pomegranate perils. Cooked rice in homemade veg broth and toasted cashews. Raves all around
Awesome! Love the idea of adding pomegranate!
I roasted some butternut squash for this instead of mango and the whole thing was delicious! An awesome Meatless Monday recipe my husband and I loved.
Great idea, Sara! Yum!
hi
thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. I’ve tried it at home. It is really very good and crispy. Thank you so much. Keep sharing recipes like this. again thanks 🙂
This was such a great addition this year. I’ll be serving it next year, as well (and during the week for work lunches)! Thanks!
Great! Glad to hear that, Michelle!
The first time I wrote to you a few years ago, we chatted about your time in the Philippines and my time in the Philippines (not expecting you to remember that, of course!). Now, my husband and I are back in the Philippines for 4 years–I have been sad about not being home for Thanksgiving this year (or any of the next 4 years to come!). But, now I cannot wait to make this salad since we actually have access to Philippine mangos! Yes! Cannot wait. Thanks for making me feel a little bit more in the mood for Thanksgiving by making a salad with mangos!
Enjoy those amazing Filipino mangoes this Thanksgiving! 🙂
allergic. mango=rash and itchy throat/ears… so that’ll need a swap. maybe pears.
So many friends are allergic to mangos… all nurses. (is it a hidden latex allergy? we all get sad at the amount of mangos in all the recipes lately)
LOVE the use of mangoes in a Thanksgiving salad!! So creative and different. Can I come to your Thanksgiving and just eat this salad!? 😉
i am totally going to add some roasted shrimp to this for dinner!
Yum! Love that idea, Lisa!
LOVE when grains are mixed in a salad! This looks pretty and yummo! Thanks for your continued inspirational recipes!
Hope you like it, Michelle!
This looks delicious and I am totally digging the jar lemon dressing, simple and classic! I hope your November has gotten off to a great start!
Thanks, Alexe!
Hahaha that quote! “mashed potatoes which are universally appealing whether you’re the three-year-old or the grandpa” so, so true. And mango in salads? Love it! Nothing weird about it. We don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Belgium but I will find an occasion to bring this on the table anyway, no problem.
xx B
http://www.thisisb.be
You can do it! 😉 Thanks Britt!
Love your blog Lyndsey. And I’ve been listening to Bjork’s podcasts. So much great info! This salad is gorgeous! Perfect Thanksgiving side. And of course your pics look fabulous. ;-D
Thank you Michele! So great to hear that! 🙂
Yum! (More than a pinch!)
ha! Thanks Lodi!
I love it when a recipe comes with so many alternatives. There are already a few variations I would love to try.
I am all about the flexibility here! Hope you like it Adina!
Luckily I’m still at the point where I just get to go to dinner and eat – no cooking required 🙂 I would never be able to cook a turkey! Raw meat is so gross. Love that little dressing container you have!!
Yes! Lucky indeed!!
I’m the dessert bringer in my family during the holidays but this salad is making me want to switch roles.
Switch! Switch! Switch! or just bring both 🙂
This looks great! I love a good salad amongst all of the turkey, sides and bread. I will bookmark this for Christmas since Canada already has celebrated Thanksgiving.
Leslie
http://www.alifewellconsumed.com
Right?! I’m sorry. I’m too late for Canada!
Nice salad. I think we are all looking for different ideas for Thanksgiving. This would be a nice compliment to the traditional meal.
Yep – it can really go with just about any Thanksgiving spread. 🙂
I can totally see this layered in a Mason jar with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. I’m all about practicing my Thanksgiving recipes these days so I I’ll have to try this one.
You just blew my mind with that Karen. I LOVE that idea.
I’m on a wild rice binge right now, so this salad is right up my alley! Such a beautiful thing for the Thanksgiving table!
Wild Rice is my favorite thing ever. Proud to be from Minnesota! 😉