Mini salads for Holidays – made easy!
Want a nice salad that is special, but not too much for the holidays? Want a way to please everyone at your table?
Actually, these little gem wedges would be good any meal! I made them for the fourth of July.
Well, we are all looking for some healthier choices for Thanksgiving. A nice salad is appreciated with such a traditionally heavy meal.
This year, I will arrange baby little gem lettuce halves and a tray with some choices, like a mini salad bar! You can also include loose mixed lettuce leaves or Belgium endive if wedges are too large.
Create a mini salad bar
Arrange your salad bar like a charcuterie board! That way you get the best of both in the same effort.
Let the diners choose from several dressings, cut vegetables, and add-ons. My lemony cashew dressing, ranch and persimmon vinaigrette are three to try.
Try dried fruit like cranberries or apricots. Add seasonal fruit like apples, persimmons or pomegranate, seasoned nuts, seeds, crispy noodles or maybe dried onions.
Add a few exotic things like olives, artichokes, peppers or pickled vegetables.
Include some cheeses, bacon bits, boiled egg slices, grilled chicken or shrimp for your carnivore guests.
Be sure to include some crackers or baguettes to round out your board.
I just realized, I’ve written an article about how to build a good salad. Take a peek. Check this out!
Would you rather have them all assembled?
Don’t want the salad bar? Basically you are just expanding a charcuterie board but if you are not doing that, go ahead and assemble your wedge salads. Frankly just adding
This particular salad has hickory smoked sunflower seeds and a lemony cashew crema. It is very simple but looks like I spent a long time. (sighing, flour on forehead time).
Try little gem combinations:
Lemony cashew cream, pumpkin flavored sunflower seed, pomegranate seeds, red onion and grated butternut squash. Inspired by this recipe.
Citrus fruit and avocado go extremely well together. This is a lettuce and carrot salad!
The toppings on this fall Waldorf salad can serve as inspiration. Add as little or as much as you like to make the salads personal,
Vegan ranch dressing, pecans, celery slices, red onion, chopped tomatoes and green peas.
Lemony cashew cream is one cup of cashews soaked in water an hour. Pour off the water and add 4 tbsp lemon juice to the cashews before blending until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. A little sage lends a holiday feel to this dressing.
Vegan choices are always a challenge for the holidays. Having a nice, light salad will be very much appreciated.
