Best 6 Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad Recipes

GLUTEN-FREE CRANBERRY-ALMOND QUINOA SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: Whisk together the oil, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• For the salad: Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Place the cranberries in a small bowl. Ladle out 1/2 cup of the boiling water over the cranberries to rehydrate. Pour the quinoa into the pot with the remaining boiling water, cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the quinoa absorbs the water, 12 to 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and transfer to a large bowl.
• Drain the cranberries and scatter them over the quinoa. Add the scallions, almonds and vinaigrette, and fold into the salad until evenly distributed. Add the mint and serve, or chill overnight if desired.

QUINOA WITH FETA, WALNUTS, AND DRIED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Bring chicken broth and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and broth has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer quinoa to a bowl.
• Stir walnuts and cranberries through the quinoa; add feta cheese and gently stir.

CRANBERRY, FETA AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Toss greens, cranberries, cheese and walnuts in large bowl.
• Mix vinegar, honey, mustard and pepper with wire whisk until well blended.
• Gradually add oil, whisking constantly until well blended.
• Pour over salad; toss to coat.
• Serve immediately.

CRANBERRY LENTIL AND QUINOA SALAD

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.

WILD RICE, QUINOA & CRANBERRY SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse wild rice thoroughly; drain. In a large saucepan, combine rice and 5 cups broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 60-70 minutes or until rice is fluffy and tender. Drain if necessary., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring remaining broth to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; fluff with a fork., Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Finely grate enough peel from oranges to measure 2 teaspoons; place in a large bowl. Cut a thin slice from the top and bottom of each orange; stand orange upright on a cutting board. With a knife, cut off peel and outer membrane from orange. Working over the same large bowl with orange peel to catch juices, cut along the membrane of each segment to remove fruit. Cut orange sections in half; stir into orange juice and peel. Add cranberries, almonds, parsley, rice, quinoa and onion mixture., In a small bowl, whisk oil, thyme, vinegar, salt and pepper until blended. Pour over rice mixture; toss to coat.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE QUINOA SALAD

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.