Creating a Perfect Salad for Any Occasion

“Salads are like little masterpieces of goodness. Anyone can become a genius salad maker—but a salad is only as good as its ingredients. So, part of the genius lies in becoming a curator of fantastic salad ingredients. Long before I was a cookbook author and blogger, I was known in my circle of friends as the Queen of the Salads because of my devotion to making them spectacular” – Teri Turner of No Crumbs Left

A Simple Holiday Salad with Citrus and Toasted Walnut Vinaigrette

Every single bite of this holiday salad is loaded with California grown flavor and lots of texture too! With three types of broiled and fresh citrus, a luscious turmeric yogurt base, and crispy shallots this salad is as colorful as it is flavorful.

Autumn “Caprese” with California Grown Persimmon and Pomegranate

Why should summer have all the fun with Caprese salad? The Delicious Life suggests that you make a Persimmon Salad in the fall and winter and make it Caprese-style with basil and mozzarella!

Tangerine Pistachio Kale Salad

This kale salad packs a double dose of Tangerine in the salad and the dressing! This salad for Thanskgiving is light and bright, the perfect side dish counterpart to the heftier holiday fare.

An Easy And Impressive Salad For Thanksgiving With Delicata Squash, Pomegranate & Burrata

This salad for Thanksgiving from A Girl Defloured has a mixture of baby kale, spinach, and baby chard is topped with sweet rings of spiced roasted delicata squash, creamy burrata, bright pomegranate arils, and a sprinkle of nutty, crunchy dukkah. This unique salad is brimming with autumnal goodness.

Spiralized Apple Salad

This salad for Thanksgiving from This Mess is Ours is not only easy to make, with ingredients that you probably already have on hand, but unlike some salads this one is super kid-friendly too!

Her kids love all of the ingredients, even the apple cider poppy seed dressing, and she says it is a HUGE hit with chunks of leftover turkey tossed in it after the Thanksgiving feast too!

Look for Granny Smith or Fuji apples for this tasty salad, both of which are grown in California!

Kale Salad with Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds 

This salad for Thanksgiving from G-Free Foodie can be customized with your favorite mix-ins and flavors. Plus, it holds up well in the fridge and is totally easy to make! It’s a solid holiday win!

Did you know California grows most of the nation’s leafy greens? It’s true!

Grape-Roasted Beet Salad with Serrano Pepper Dressing 

This salad for Thanksgiving from Hola Jalapeno has loads of texture from crunchy sliced fennel and pistachios and hits all the flavor profiles: Spicy serrano pepper dressing, fresh California grapes, salty roasted nuts, and earthy roasted beets.

But that’s not even the most interesting thing about it. The grape marinade the beets get roasted in is a technique you’ll use over and over again!

Wild Rice Pomegranate Persimmon Pistachio Salad

Consider this salad recipe from Salt and Wind the Little Black Dress of salad recipes — it works with virtually any holiday spread and can be dressed up or down depending on your preference.

Aida says she made this salad once for a holiday gathering and it has been requested from her family at every holiday table since. Consider yourself warned.

Roasted Beet & Carrot Lentil Salad with Feta, Yogurt & Dill

Now, this is a hearty salad for Thanksgiving from The Bojon Gourmet that the vegetarians at your table will go wild for! This holiday salad pairs warm lentils, roasted beets, and carrots with a tangy herbaceous yogurt sauce, briny feta, and crunchy almonds

Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with Pecan Vinaigrette

This hearty fall salad from Naturally Ella combines the flavors of roasted squash, creamy goat cheese and warm farro. Top it with an easy pecan vinaigrette!