Nutrition Recipe: Simple Turkey Warm Winter Brussel Salad

When we are cold and hungry, thinking about a cold salad, although nutritional, just doesn’t drive us to want to make it. So, for those of us who live where it gets cold, Jocelin Lamprey RD, LDN of Day by Day Nutrition, LLC and I decided to make a warm salad to get all the veggies and nutrients without adding to already cold temperatures. We started by thinking about the Farmers and Cooks Simple Turkey as the protein in this recipe because it fits in most low sodium diets, and is a blank canvas for introducing other yummy all natural flavors. We added Brussel sprouts as an incredible winter veg, apples for brightness and color, and rosemary and walnuts to bring everything together.

Jocelin saw all of these ingredients creating an incredibly well-balanced recipe with fiber and protein. Hearty Brussel sprouts, apples, and walnuts all have fiber, and the turkey brings great protein density. Fiber and protein help keep you full and stabilize blood sugar, so it should be hours before you feel hungry again.

Being full and feeling nourished is possible in even less time if the turkey and veggies are prepped ahead of time so that everything just needs to be cooked and combined. We would recommend separating ingredients into portions instead of reheating because this recipe will dry out too quickly reheated.

Simple Turkey Warm Winter Brussel Salad

-makes 4 servings as a main entree.

Ingredients

Salad:
1/2 lb. Farmers & Cooks Simple Turkey (buy as a whole piece)

1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Brussel sprouts
2 tart apples (we used a red and a green for color)
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Salt and Pepper

Prep

1. Wash Brussel sprouts and apples.
2. Quarter Brussel sprouts.
3. Cut apples into slices.
4. Cut turkey into large pieces (about the size of the Brussel sprout quarters).

Assembly

1. Heat butter, oil, and rosemary in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add Brussel sprouts. Salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cook until tender and edges get browned and crispy (about 8 minutes).
4. Add apples and turkey. Cook for a few more minutes until just warm.
5. Serve and sprinkle walnuts on top.

The most important note for this recipe is to make sure not to dry everything out by overheating. The turkey doesn’t need to cook but instead just be warmed, and the apples should be left with some bite for moisture and texture. If you do accidentally dry this out, add a simple vinegarette or lemon juice to bring moisture back, and bring this warm salad in a different direction. Did you add any other winter vegetables? Carrots? Peas? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!