Cranberry Quinoa Salad
on Oct 27, 2021, Updated May 09, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Watch out, because I’m about to convert you into a quinoa lover with my Cranberry Quinoa Salad! 💥 Quinoa is considered a superfood 🦸♀️ because of its nutrient density, but I adore these seeds because they’re affordable, easy to cook, fill you up with fiber and protein, and hold up well for days in the fridge. Quinoa makes a perfect base to this hearty, lettuce-free salad, and it soaks up all the dressing, so each bite is loaded with flavor.
If you’re not a quinoa fan, this recipe will change your mind. I used to be put off by the smell of quinoa, but after toying with it in the kitchen, I can now say I am a quinoa lover, thanks to this salad and a small trick that changed everything (check out Nonna’s Tip, below). And if you do love quinoa, then be sure to check out my recipe for the famous Jennifer Aniston Salad.
Why You’ll Love Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Bright, tart, herbaceous, colorful, and filling: this recipe is everything I want in a salad. Cucumbers 🥒 add crunch, a mix of fresh herbs lends flavor, crumbled soft cheese add richness, and lemon juice 🍋 and dried cranberries bring a pleasant tartness. And, of course, a big heaping of cooked quinoa brings everything together for a well-balanced meal, that holds up beautifully over time in the fridge. Make this ahead of time for entertaining or batch-cook this for meal prep. Best of all, omit the cheese and this is a vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free dish for everyone to enjoy!
Ingredients
🌾 Quinoa: There’s a reason quinoa has a reputation as a “superfood”: it’s a great source of protein, fiber, magnesium, iron, and more. It’s also a a low-glycemic index food, meaning it releases sugar into the bloodstream slowly.
🌿 Fresh Mint and Parsley: Green herbs bring vibrance and flavor to this dish. I love assertive, refreshing mint and bitter parsley, but any fresh green herb works.
🥒 Cucumber: Crunchy and hydrating; I like Persian or English cucumbers for their firm texture and lack of seeds.
🍋 Lemon: Just two ingredients make up the “dressing” on this salad: tart, fresh lemon and olive oil.
🫒 Olive Oil: Use a nice flavorful olive oil here, since it’s one of two ingredients that make up a simple dressing.
🔴 Dried Cranberries: Every salad deserves to be topped with tart, delicious dried cranberries. Do not use fresh or canned cranberries as a substitute 🙅🏻♀️.
🧀 Feta: What’s a TMN recipe without some salty, crumbled feta? Do your nonna proud and buy a block of feta sold in brine, then crumble it at home.
🌰 Walnuts: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts add crunch and healthy fat to this recipe.
Nonna’s Tip 🥗
👃 The smell of quinoa really bothers me, but rinsing uncooked quinoa under running water for 3 to 5 minutes eliminates the smell and produces mild-tasting quinoa.
Variations and Substitutions for Cranberry Quinoa Salad
- For added nutrition and/or flavor, you can cook the quinoa in vegetable or chicken broth, instead of water.
- You can use any kind of crumbly cheese: cotija, ricotta salata, etc. Or serve with slabs of grilled halloumi cheese.
- Toasted, chopped nuts 🥜 add great texture to this salad. I like almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, or pistachios here.
- Raisins or dried currants make great substitutes for dried cranberries.
- Couscous and orzo are also delicious, if you don’t want to use quinoa.
Similar Recipes
Best Served With
- This salad is a meal on its own, but you can bulk it up by pairing it with grilled, cubed chicken or thinly pounded chicken breasts.
- I love the combination of a hearty salad and grilled salmon skewers. 🥗🐟
- This makes a nice entertaining dish all year long. I would pair it with a rich cheesy appetizer, like baked brie.
- Soup and salad is a classic combo; try my hidden veggie chicken noodle soup. 🍜
Common Questions
Certainly, you can make this with cooked couscous, orzo, or bulgur wheat.
The quinoa should be nice and fluffy, and not clump up when you stir it with a fork. The water should be evaporated from the pan. If there’s still water in the bottom of the pan, cook for another few minutes.
This will last for about 3 days in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container. The herbs may oxidize (turn brown), but they are still safe to eat.
You can try using fresh cilantro here or basil, or omitting the herbs all together.
Yes, this quinoa salad with cranberries is gluten-free. Quinoa is a plant-based protein that looks like a grain.
This is hearty enough to be a main course, but you could also serve it alongside grilled fish, shredded or thinly sliced meat, or with some beans.
You can easily make this vegan and dairy-free by omitting the feta cheese. Optionally, you can replace it with your favorite vegan crumbled cheese.
Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a fine-mesh sieve, rinse the quinoa really well under running water for at least 3 to 5 minutes. Add to a pot and combine with 2 cups of water and a big pinch of salt.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the quinoa is fluffy and the water has evaporated. Let cool to room temperature (you can place the quinoa in the fridge to speed this up).
- In a large bowl, add the quinoa, mint, parsley, cucumber, juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, and cranberries. Season to taste with salt and stir well.
- Top off with cheese and nuts, if using, and enjoy!
Notes
- Amp up the Protein: You can add additional protein to this recipe by cooking the quinoa in bone broth, adding your favorite cooked protein to the mix (shredded chicken goes well), or mixing in some chickpeas or white beans.
- Boost the Flavor: For some additional flavor you can also add freshly grated lemon zest or finely chopped red onions or scallions.
- Serve a Crowd: This recipe is so easy to make for a big group because it requires very little chopping and cooking. To make it allergy-friendly, serve the nuts and cheese on the side.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
