Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette

Teresa Ambra

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette is spectacular! Along with salad greens it has sliced turkey meat, dried cherries, sliced pears, toasted pecans, and in place of the Gorgonzola cheese I substituted Feta cheese because we like it better. It also comes with its own cherry balsamic vinaigrette which is outstanding. The dressing uses cherry preserves in the base. We loved it. So did our company!

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John was telling me about this delicious salad at Panera Bread last week so I wanted to give it a whirl. I was going to wing it for both salad and dressing based on his description, but then I found this copycat recipe online and decided to give it a try.

It was fabulous! We loved this delicious salad and I will be making it again and again. I used leftover turkey breast meat from Thanksgiving dinner, but sliced grilled or rotisserie chicken will work just as well. I found this version online here.

If you are looking for new, fresh ways to eat salad, I invite you to try this tasty recipe. You won’t be sorry. You can even substitute bacon or go meatless if you desire and the recipe will still work wonderfully. To get a little more color in the salad you may want to use a pear with a red peel, or add diced red onion or diced red or orange peppers.

When I initially posted this recipe in December 2012, I was still using an iPhone for a camera, so my pictures were grainy, dark and less than pleasing. Because of that, I’ve been remaking all of my first year blog recipes and I recently remade this recipe (December 2015) after using turkey for Christmas dinner.

My husband prefers white meat so I used leftover turkey breast recipe for this recipe. This easy and simple recipe is quite delicious. Substitute rotisserie chicken or baked or grilled boneless chicken breast slices if desired.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette has salad greens with lots of turkey, dried cherries, diced pears, toasted walnuts, and feta cheese. It’s delicious.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

This salad is pretty quick and easy to make up. It’s great with either leftover turkey or chicken.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

While we used feta cheese, use Gorgonzola if you prefer since that’s closer to the original recipe.

Here’s what I did.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

I used these ingredients. The turkey was leftover from Christmas dinner. The pecans came from a friend who sends them to us every year.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Slice pears. Coat each piece in lemon juice. Set on paper towels to dry. Set aside.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Place spring mix in a salad bowl. Top with a bag of romaine lettuce. Add dried cherries, roasted pecans, pears, turkey and feta or gorgonzola cheese. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

I used these ingredients to make the cherry vinaigrette.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

To make the cherry vinaigrette: place the balsamic vinegar into a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Add garlic.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Add sugar. Bring mixture to a simmer until it condenses in half – about 10 – 15 minutes. Add cherry preserves. Cook one minute, remove from heat.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Stir in red wine vinegar and olive oil. Add salt and pepper.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Stir the salad dressing ingredients and pour into a carafe or cruet.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Serve Panera Bread’s Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette with your favorite bread or rolls.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette is a refreshing salad that’s great served as a company salad.

Here’s the recipe.

HARVEST TURKEY SALAD WITH CHERRY VINAIGRETTE

(Adapted from copycat version of Panera Bread’s Roasted Turkey Harvest Salad from panerabreadathome. blogspot.com.

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette

Teresa Ambra
Fabulous Panera Bread copycat recipe. This lovely salad is filled with dried cherries, pears, toasted pecans, grilled chicken or turkey and feta or gorgonzola cheese. Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 381 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 sharp knife to core and cut fruit
  • 1 small saucepan
  • 1 small bowl
  • 1 small cookie sheet
  • 1 toaster oven or regular oven to toast pecans
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

HARVEST TURKEY SALAD:

  • 1 large bag spring/field mix
  • 1/2 bag Romaine lettuce cut in bite-size pieces
  • 2 large pears unpeeled
  • 1 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted
  • 1 to 2 cups grilled chicken or turkey breast sliced
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 8 oz. Feta cheese we prefer feta cheese over Gorgonzola
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice or as needed

CHERRY VINAIGRETTE:

  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup cherry preserves
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. salt to taste
  • 1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

HARVEST TURKEY SALAD:

  • Layer lettuces in large salad bowl.
  • Add dried cherries.
  • Core and dice pears and swish in a small bowl of lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
  • Add on top of other salad ingredients.
  • Toast pecans or walnuts in oven or toaster oven at 350 for about 5-10 minutes.
  • Add toasted nuts on top.
  • Sprinkle with feta or gorgonzola cheese.
  • Add grilled chicken or turkey breast, sliced or cubed.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette.

CHERRY VINAIGRETTE:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the balsamic vinegar, granulated sugar and garlic and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar.
  • Simmer the mixture, uncovered, until reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the cherry preserves and cook for 1 minute longer.
  • Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
  • Whisk in the red wine vinegar followed by the olive oil.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Set aside.
  • Serve over Harvest Turkey Salad.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Panera Bread at Home.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 11gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 606mgPotassium: 299mgFiber: 5gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 848IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 179mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cherries, gluten free, pears, pecans, salad, side dish, turkey
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette[/b]
 
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from copycat version of Panera Bread’s Roasted Turkey Harvest Salad via [url href=”http://panerabreadathome.blogspot.com/2012/09/roasted-turkey-harvest-salad.html” target=”_blank” title=”roasted harvest turkey salad”]PaneraBreadAtHome.blogspot.com[/url]
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Fabulous Panera Bread copycat recipe. This lovely salad is filled with dried cherries, pears, toasted pecans, grilled chicken or turkey and feta or gorgonzola cheese. Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette. Gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 1 large bag spring/field mix
  • ½ bag Romaine lettuce, cut in bite-size pieces
  • 2 large pears, unpeeled, cored, diced
  • 1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
  • 1-2 cups sliced grilled chicken or turkey breast
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 8-oz. Feta cheese (we prefer feta cheese over Gorgonzola)
  • lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Layer lettuces in large salad bowl.
  2. Add dried cherries.
  3. Core and dice pears and swish in a small bowl of lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
  4. Add on top of other salad ingredients.
  5. Toast pecans or walnuts in oven or toaster oven at 350 for about 5-10 minutes.
  6. Add toasted nuts on top.
  7. Sprinkle with feta or gorgonzola cheese.
  8. Add grilled chicken or turkey breast, sliced or cubed.
  9. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  10. Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette.
 

 

[b]Cherry Vinaigrette[/b]
 
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://panerabreadathome.blogspot.com/2012/09/roasted-turkey-harvest-salad.html” target=”_blank” title=”roasted turkey harvest salad”]PaneraBreadAtHome.Blogspot.com[/url]
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Fabulous Panera Bread copycat recipe. This lovely salad is filled with dried cherries, pears, toasted pecans, grilled chicken or turkey and feta or gorgonzola cheese. Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette. Gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup Smucker’s cherry preserves
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the balsamic vinegar, sugar and garlic and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Simmer the mixture, uncovered, until reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the cherry preserves and cook for 1 minute longer.
  4. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
  5. Whisk in the red wine vinegar followed by the canola oil.
  6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  7. Set aside.
  8. Serve over Harvest Turkey Salad.
Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette is not only gorgeous to look at, it’s delightful to eat!

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaneraBread copycat recipe with #driedcherries in the #salad and #cherrypreserves in the salad dressing. Great with leftover #turkey or #chicken. #glutenfree #pears

You may want to try a bite of this elegant salad!

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Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Harvest Turkey Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette

Teresa Ambra
Fabulous Panera Bread copycat recipe. This lovely salad is filled with dried cherries, pears, toasted pecans, grilled chicken or turkey and feta or gorgonzola cheese. Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 381 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 sharp knife to core and cut fruit
  • 1 small saucepan
  • 1 small bowl
  • 1 small cookie sheet
  • 1 toaster oven or regular oven to toast pecans
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

HARVEST TURKEY SALAD:

  • 1 large bag spring/field mix
  • 1/2 bag Romaine lettuce cut in bite-size pieces
  • 2 large pears unpeeled
  • 1 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted
  • 1 to 2 cups grilled chicken or turkey breast sliced
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 8 oz. Feta cheese we prefer feta cheese over Gorgonzola
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice or as needed

CHERRY VINAIGRETTE:

  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup cherry preserves
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. salt to taste
  • 1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

HARVEST TURKEY SALAD:

  • Layer lettuces in large salad bowl.
  • Add dried cherries.
  • Core and dice pears and swish in a small bowl of lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
  • Add on top of other salad ingredients.
  • Toast pecans or walnuts in oven or toaster oven at 350 for about 5-10 minutes.
  • Add toasted nuts on top.
  • Sprinkle with feta or gorgonzola cheese.
  • Add grilled chicken or turkey breast, sliced or cubed.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Serve with Cherry Vinaigrette.

CHERRY VINAIGRETTE:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the balsamic vinegar, granulated sugar and garlic and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar.
  • Simmer the mixture, uncovered, until reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the cherry preserves and cook for 1 minute longer.
  • Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
  • Whisk in the red wine vinegar followed by the olive oil.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Set aside.
  • Serve over Harvest Turkey Salad.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Panera Bread at Home.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 11gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 606mgPotassium: 299mgFiber: 5gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 848IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 179mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cherries, gluten free, pears, pecans, salad, side dish, turkey
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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