Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad Recipe
A refreshing and healthy Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad combining the nutty flavors of quinoa with sweet apples, tangy dried cranberries, crunchy celery and pecans, all tossed in a light maple mustard dressing. Perfect as a nutritious side dish or a light lunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for quinoa cooking)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar (or 1/2 cup for a tangier dressing)
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
Salad
- 3 cups cooked quinoa (cooked according to package instructions)
- 1 medium apple, diced (preferably a crisp variety like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 3 stalks celery, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 bunch Italian parsley, washed, dried, and chopped (about 3/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1 tsp salt (such as Diamond Crystal kosher salt)
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Quinoa: Prepare quinoa according to package instructions until fully cooked. Spread the quinoa out in a thin layer on a baking sheet and allow it to cool completely to room temperature to avoid wilting the salad ingredients.
- Make Dressing: While the quinoa cools, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, and whole grain mustard in a bowl. Taste and adjust the acidity or sweetness if desired, then set aside.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Once the quinoa has cooled, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the diced apple, diced celery, thinly sliced scallions, chopped Italian parsley, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and pepitas. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Toss Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the quinoa mixture. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use a crisp apple variety such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor contrast.
- To reduce prep time, quinoa can be cooked in advance and refrigerated.
- Adjust the amount of apple cider vinegar in the dressing to your taste preference; more vinegar adds tanginess.
- For extra crunch, lightly toast the pecans and pepitas before adding to the salad.
- This salad is great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day after flavors meld.
Keywords: cranberry apple quinoa salad, healthy quinoa salad, fruit quinoa salad, vegetarian salad, gluten free salad, apple cranberry salad, quinoa side dish
Find it online: https://cookwithruby.com/cranberry-apple-quinoa-salad-recipe/
