Best 6 Cranberry Lentil And Quinoa Salad Recipes

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Searching for a dish that is healthy, delectable, and packed with nutrients? Look no further than cranberry lentil and quinoa salad! This exceptional salad combines the tangy sweetness of cranberries, the earthy savoriness of lentils, and the nutty flavor of quinoa, creating a delightful symphony of textures and tastes. Not only is it a culinary masterpiece, but it's also a powerhouse of nutrition, rich in fiber, protein, and an array of essential vitamins and minerals. Ready to embark on a culinary adventure? In this guide, we'll share the best cranberry lentil and quinoa salad recipe that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

LENTIL QUINOA SALAD



Lentil Quinoa Salad image

Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/2 cup quinoa
1 1/4 cups water, plus 2 cups
1/2 cup lentils
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 lime, zested
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Steps:

  • Put the quinoa in a sieve and rinse in cold water. In a large microwave-proof bowl with a cover, add the rinsed quinoa and 1 1/4 cups water. Cover and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Let it sit for 2 minutes then stir. Quinoa should be tender enough to eat, but with a little "pop" upon biting.
  • Put the lentils in a sieve and rinse in cold water. In a saucepan, simmer the lentils in 2 cups water until the lentils are tender, but not mushy, about 30 minutes. Drain and cool.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the mustard and vinegar together, and drizzle in the oil to make an emulsion. Add the garlic powder, lime zest, and salt, and pepper, to taste.
  • To assemble the salad: In a medium salad bowl, mix the quinoa, lentils, green onions, and chopped cilantro. Top the salad with the dressing, toss to coat and serve.

CRANBERRY LENTIL AND QUINOA SALAD



Cranberry Lentil and Quinoa Salad image

A healthy, protein-packed salad.

Provided by CeliaBelia

Categories     Salad     Grains     Quinoa Salad Recipes

Time 2h

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup dried lentils
2 bay leaves, divided
water to cover
2 cups water
1 cup quinoa
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
ground black pepper to taste
½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
½ cup dried cranberries, or to taste
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
1 small green onion, finely chopped

Steps:

  • Place lentils and 1 bay leaf in a saucepan with enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes; drain and discard bay leaf. Rinse with cold water until lentils cool and transfer to a large bowl.
  • Bring 2 cups water, quinoa, and remaining bay leaf to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse quinoa with cold water until cool, discarding bay leaf. Stir quinoa into lentils.
  • Heat lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave until warm, about 30 seconds. Stir honey into juice until dissolved. Add vinegar and salt; whisk in olive oil and season with black pepper. Pour lemon juice mixture into lentils and quinoa.
  • Mix walnuts, cranberries, feta cheese, and green onion into lentil and quinoa salad. Toss to coat. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 205.1 calories, Carbohydrate 24.7 g, Cholesterol 5.6 mg, Fat 8.9 g, Fiber 6.5 g, Protein 7.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 122.7 mg, Sugar 4.6 g

CRANBERRY AND CILANTRO QUINOA SALAD



Cranberry and Cilantro Quinoa Salad image

I got this recipe from the restaurant my dad built. I love the unique way of cooking the quinoa and the great combinations of the flavors.

Provided by Alison

Categories     Salad     Grains     Quinoa Salad Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 ½ cups water
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
¼ cup yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime, juiced
¼ cup toasted sliced almonds
½ cup minced carrots
½ cup dried cranberries
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Pour the water into a saucepan, and cover with a lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, then pour in the quinoa, recover, and continue to simmer over low heat until the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Scrape into a mixing bowl, and chill in the refrigerator until cold.
  • Once cold, stir in the red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, red onion, curry powder, cilantro, lime juice, sliced almonds, carrots, and cranberries. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 176.2 calories, Carbohydrate 31.6 g, Fat 3.9 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 5.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 13.1 mg, Sugar 8.2 g

LEMON CRANBERRY QUINOA SALAD



Lemon Cranberry Quinoa Salad image

As the family cook, I appreciate how easy this is to throw together on a busy weeknight. Plus, this salad never gets boring. One of my favorite variations is to substitute diced fresh mango for the cranberries, cilantro for the parsley, and lime for the lemon juice and zest. -Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
3/4 teaspoon salt
SALAD:
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 cup chopped peeled jicama or tart apple
1 cup chopped seeded cucumber
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cubed avocado

Steps:

  • For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients until blended., In a small saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; fluff with a fork. Transfer to a large bowl., Add jicama, cucumber, cranberries, parsley and green onion to quinoa. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold. Gently stir in avocado before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 218 calories, Fat 11g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 370mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

FETA-CRANBERRY LENTIL SALAD



Feta-Cranberry Lentil Salad image

An unusual combination of ingredients gives this salad its flavor. Sweet-tart cranberries are mixed with a tang of feta cheese to make it surprisingly tasty. -Alison Halasz, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
2 cups water
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, combine the lentils, water and bay leaves; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain and discard bay leaves. Rinse lentils in cold water. , In a large bowl, combine the lentils, cranberries, walnuts, feta cheese and parsley. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper. Pour over lentil mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 435 calories, Fat 22g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 1026mg sodium, Carbohydrate 44g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 17g fiber), Protein 20g protein.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE QUINOA SALAD



Cranberry-Orange Quinoa Salad image

Make and share this Cranberry-Orange Quinoa Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Dawn R

Categories     Fruit

Time 30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups dry quinoa
1 cup orange juice
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup mandarin orange section, drained
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Rinse the quinoa with cold water and strain. In a pot, add the quinoa, water and salt. Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes or till the liquid is absorbed. When done, fluff with a fork and then lay out in a thin layer on a baking sheet to cool.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, reduce the orange juice to half by simmering is a non-reactive sauce pan for approximately 10 minutes. Set in the freezer for 5 mintues to cool. Once cooled, whisk in olive oil to make a vinaigrette.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cranberries, raisins, nuts, orange slices and cooked quinoa. Pour vinaigrette over the mixure and stir together. If desired, add fresh chopped mint. Serve cold. Great with a side of whole grain toast or leafy greens -- or by itself. Makes approx 8 servings.

Tips:

  • Always rinse lentils and quinoa thoroughly before cooking.
  • If you don't have fresh cranberries, you can use frozen or dried cranberries.
  • Add other vegetables to the salad, such as chopped celery, carrots, or bell peppers.
  • For a sweeter salad, add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
  • For a more savory salad, add a sprinkle of cumin or curry powder.
  • Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later.

Conclusion:

This cranberry, lentil, and quinoa salad is a healthy and delicious dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins, and it is also a good source of antioxidants. The salad is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you are looking for a healthy and satisfying meal, give this salad a try!

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