Description
The Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and nutrient-packed dish that combines the sweetness of crisp apples, the tartness of dried cranberries, and the hearty texture of fluffy quinoa. Perfect for any meal, it offers a balanced blend of flavors and textures, complemented by a light olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing with a touch of honey or maple syrup. This versatile, gluten-free salad is quick to prepare and ideal for lunches, light dinners, or flavorful sides.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 medium crisp apples (such as Fuji or Gala), diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or mint, chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt, a pinch
- Black pepper, a pinch
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa: Rinse 1 cup of quinoa under cold water to remove any bitterness. Combine it with 2 cups of water in a pot, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is fluffy. Fluff with a fork and let it cool completely.
- Prepare the fruits and nuts: Wash and dice two medium apples into bite-sized pieces. Roughly chop the nuts to maintain texture. Measure out ½ cup of dried cranberries.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, and a pinch each of salt and black pepper until emulsified.
- Combine everything: In a large bowl, toss the cooled quinoa with the apples, dried cranberries, chopped nuts, and fresh parsley or mint. Drizzle the dressing over and mix gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
Notes
- Rinse quinoa well to remove saponins that can cause bitterness.
- Chill the salad to enhance flavor and create a refreshing dish.
- To keep apples from browning, toss them in a bit of lemon juice immediately after chopping.
- Lightly toast the walnuts or pecans to boost their flavor and crunch.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup to balance sweetness and tartness to your liking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad, gluten-free salad, quinoa salad, healthy salad, vegan salad, gluten free, quinoa, apple salad, dried cranberries
