This recipe transforms leftover turkey into a flavorful Mediterranean sandwich filling. Chopped turkey is tossed with crunchy celery, red onion, roasted red peppers, and briny olives. A creamy lemon-garlic mayonnaise dressing brings everything together.
The salad can be chilled for hours to allow the flavors to meld, then piled onto crusty bread for a satisfying lunch.
Why You’ll Love This Mediterranean Turkey Salad Sandwich
- Flavorful Twist on Classic Turkey Salad: It takes leftover turkey in a new direction with the addition of Mediterranean ingredients like olives, roasted red peppers, and a lemon-garlic dressing.
- Packed with Texture: The combination of chopped turkey, crunchy celery and red onion, and briny olives offers a delightful mix of textures in every bite.
- Customizable: While the recipe highlights olives and roasted red peppers, you can add other favorite Mediterranean vegetables like cucumbers or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Easy on Leftovers: It’s a perfect way to use up leftover turkey from a roast or Thanksgiving dinner.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The flavors develop even more after chilling, so it’s a great option for a quick and delicious lunch throughout the week.
What to Serve with Mediterranean Turkey Salad
The Mediterranean flavors in your turkey salad sandwich call for delicious accompaniments that complement or enhance the taste profile. Here are some ideas for what to serve with it:
Light and refreshing sides:
- Greek Salad: A classic Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta cheese drizzled with a simple vinaigrette is a perfect way to add another layer of Mediterranean flavor to your meal.
- Orzo Pasta Salad: A light and flavorful orzo pasta salad with chopped vegetables, herbs, and a lemon dressing is another refreshing option.
- Marinated Vegetable Skewers: Skewers with cherry tomatoes, red onion, zucchini, and bell peppers grilled or roasted and drizzled with olive oil and herbs add a colorful and healthy side.
Heartier options:
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasting vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts brings out their natural sweetness and pairs well with the savory sandwich.
- Lentil Soup: A hearty lentil soup is a filling and protein-packed side dish.
- Potato Salad: A lighter potato salad made with Greek yogurt or mayonnaise and seasoned with herbs is a classic accompaniment to sandwiches.
Dipping options:
- Hummus: Hummus with some pita bread or crudités adds a creamy and flavorful element to the meal.
- Tzatziki Sauce: This cool and refreshing yogurt-based sauce with cucumber and garlic is a delicious dip for the sandwich or vegetables.
Something to sip:
- Lemonade: Homemade lemonade is a refreshing drink that complements the Mediterranean flavors.
- Iced Tea: Iced herbal tea, like mint or hibiscus, is another light and flavorful beverage option.
The wonderful Mediterranean flavors for this recipe comes from the delicious Kalamata Olives, Spanish Queen Olives, Roasted Bell Peppers and Mild Pepper Rings (because we like to add a little spice and it’s the perfect amount).
We love garlic so we used a lemon garlic mayonnaise dressing and tossed in a smidge more garlic.
But that’s the beauty of a recipe like this, because if you love something, add more of it. If you don’t love something, use less.
What to Add to This Sandwich
Since you already have a delicious base of Mediterranean flavors, here are some ideas for what you can add to your turkey salad sandwich for a flavor boost or textural contrast:
Veggies:
- Creamy Additions: Diced avocado adds a luxurious richness and healthy fats. Chopped cucumber provides a refreshing crunch and coolness.
- More Crunch: Shredded carrots or julienned bell peppers add vibrant color and a satisfying snap.
- Spicy Kick: Chopped jalapenos or a drizzle of sriracha add a touch of heat.
Cheese:
- Creamy Cheeses: Crumbled feta cheese adds a salty tang and creaminess. Goat cheese brings a tangy and slightly sweet flavor.
- Hard Cheeses: Shredded mozzarella or provolone provide a melty element if you plan to toast your sandwich.
Fruits:
- Sweetness: Diced dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, or chopped apricots add a sweet and chewy contrast.
- Fresh Options: Sliced grapes or chopped apples offer a touch of sweetness and freshness.
Nuts and Seeds:
- Crunch and Healthy Fats: Chopped walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts add a delightful textural contrast and healthy fats. Sunflower seeds offer a budget-friendly option with a nice crunch.
Herbs and Spreads:
- Fresh Herbs: Chopped fresh parsley, mint, or dill add a brightness and lightness to the flavors.
- Spreads: A smear of pesto or tapenade adds a burst of flavor and complements the Mediterranean theme.
Other Fun Ideas:
- Crispy Chickpeas: Roasted chickpeas add a delightful crunch and protein boost.
- Capers: Chopped capers add a salty and tangy pop of flavor.
Remember, the beauty of this sandwich is its customizability. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your perfect flavor combination!
Storing Mediterranean Turkey Salad
In the Refrigerator:
- Airtight container: This is key to prevent spoilage and drying out.
- Storage time: Your salad will stay safe for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
- Leftover cooked turkey: Factor in how long your cooked turkey was refrigerated before adding it to the salad. If the turkey was already in the fridge for a few days, the salad might be best enjoyed the same day of assembly.
Freezing:
- Technically possible: While mayonnaise or Greek yogurt-based dressings can be frozen, they tend to separate upon thawing, resulting in a watery texture.
- Recommendation: It’s best to enjoy the salad fresh or within a few days in the refrigerator for optimal quality.
Tips:
- Assemble before storing: Don’t add the dressing to the salad until you’re ready to eat to prevent the vegetables from becoming soggy.
- Stir before serving: After storing, the salad components might settle. Give it a good stir to recombine everything before serving.
I layered this wonderful Mediterranean Turkey Salad on sliced pieces of the Ciabatta buns like you would with Crostini.
Are you ready to whip up a batch of this super easy, flavorful Mediterranean Turkey Salad?
This is such an easy recipe, make up some and enjoy on crostini, crackers, sandwiches, in wraps and more! Or just eat it alone. You’ll thank me later.
Are you looking for a few more ways to use up some leftovers?
Making the Recipe
Mediterranean Turkey Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 cups turkey shredded or chopped, or use chicken, tuna or salmon
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- ¼ cup Roasted Red Pepper chopped
- ¼ cup Greek Kalamata Olives sliced
- ¼ cup Spanish Queen Olives sliced
- ¼ cup Mild Pepper Rings chopped, if desired for spice
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt and/or pepper
Instructions
- With your fingers or a fork, shred the turkey or chop into bite-sized chunks and set aside.
- Chop and slice all the veggies and olives and throw them into the bowl with the chicken.
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt/pepper and minced garlic.
- Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture into the chopped and sliced veggies.
- Chill for at least 4 hours, though the longer the more the flavors all seem to marry together, so overnight is ideal.
- Serve on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomatoes or with sandwich rolls, tortillas or artisan buns.
That sandwich looks amazing. The colors of the peppers and olives really pop and they add such robust flavors. I’m an olive (and pepper) fanatic!
Great recipe! I can see this working well with leftover chicken, too.