Best 3 Cranberry And Cilantro Quinoa Salad Recipes

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Calling all health-conscious foodies! Get ready to embark on a culinary journey with this tantalizing Cranberry and Cilantro Quinoa Salad, a delightful blend of flavors and textures. This vibrant salad boasts a medley of wholesome ingredients, including protein-packed quinoa, tart cranberries, refreshing cilantro, crunchy almonds, and a zesty lime dressing. But that's not all! Accompanying this main attraction are three equally enticing recipes: a flavorful Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad, a hearty Quinoa and Roasted Vegetable Soup, and a refreshing Quinoa and Berry Smoothie Bowl. With detailed instructions and helpful tips, this article caters to home cooks of all levels, ensuring you can effortlessly create these delicious and nutritious dishes in your own kitchen.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CRANBERRY QUINOA SALAD



Cranberry Quinoa Salad image

Cranberry Quinoa Salad is a healthy recipe that involves simple ingredients like fresh herbs, almonds, and feta cheese. With a delicious lemon dijon dressing, it's the perfect refreshing side dish or main course! Ready in less than 30 minutes.

Provided by Erin Lives Whole

Categories     dinner

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed.
2 cups veggie broth
1/2 cup cranberries
1/2 cup chopped green scallion
3/4 cup slivered almonds
3/4 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp. honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Steps:

  • Rinse your quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and then add to a saucepan.
  • Add in veggie stock and turn on heat.
  • Bring to a rolling boil, then stir and turn the heat down to low and cover.
  • Cook for 15 minutes covered.
  • Turn off heat and let sit for about 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, open lid and fluff with fork.
  • Your quinoa should have absorbed all the water, if not, return to heat for a few more minutes.
  • Pour quinoa into bowl for cooling.
  • Assemble the dressing while you wait.
  • Whisk together oil, lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard, salt and pepper in one bowl.
  • Once quinoa as completely cooled, add cranberries, green scallion, almonds, feta cheese, and parsley.
  • Add dressing on top and mix together!
  • Serve immediately or cold. This salad gets better the longer it sits in the fridge!
  • Enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1/3 cup, Calories 205 calories, Sugar 9 g, Sodium 232.5 mg, Fat 12.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 21 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 5 g, Cholesterol 8.3 mg

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

CRANBERRY QUINOA SALAD



Cranberry Quinoa Salad image

From the Whole Foods website: Serve this sweet-tart salad alongside a leafy green salad, turkey, or grilled meats and chicken. Placed here for safe keeping.

Provided by Miss_Elaine

Categories     Low Protein

Time 15m

Yield 4 , 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
4 tablespoons honey, divided
1 tablespoon lemongrass, minced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons serrano peppers, seeded and very finely chopped
1 1/2 cups cranberries
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of fresh mint, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
salt

Steps:

  • Rinse quinoa several times.
  • Bring water and quinoa to a boil and simmer 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
  • Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons honey, lemongrass, garlic and peppers in a small bowl.
  • When quinoa is cooked, stir in honey mixture.
  • Chop cranberries with remaining 2 tablespoons honey and lime juice in food processor or blender; stir this into quinoa.
  • Add mint, cilantro, red onion and salt. Toss to combine and chill until ready to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.3, Fat 2.5, SaturatedFat 0.3, Sodium 14.3, Carbohydrate 53.9, Fiber 4.5, Sugar 19.4, Protein 6.1

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients: Fresh cranberries and cilantro add the best flavor to this salad. If you can't find fresh cranberries, you can use frozen cranberries, but be sure to thaw them before using.
  • Rinse the quinoa well: Rinsing the quinoa before cooking removes the bitter coating and helps it cook evenly.
  • Cook the quinoa according to package directions: Different brands of quinoa may have different cooking instructions, so be sure to follow the directions on the package.
  • Let the quinoa cool completely before assembling the salad: This will help prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
  • Use a light dressing: A light dressing, such as a vinaigrette or lemon-tahini dressing, will allow the flavors of the quinoa, cranberries, and cilantro to shine through.
  • Add some crunch: Adding some chopped nuts or seeds to the salad will give it a nice crunch and add some extra flavor.

Conclusion:

This cranberry and cilantro quinoa salad is a delicious and healthy side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you are looking for a light and refreshing salad or a more substantial meal, this quinoa salad is sure to please.

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