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Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.9 (40 Kitchen Reviews)

3. Step-by-Step Visual Guide

In Part 3 of making Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad, let’s walk through the hands-on cooking technique so your texture turns out restaurant-worthy at home.

Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad β€” Step-by-Step Visual Guide (Page 3)
Step-by-Step Kitchen Technique: Cooking Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad Β· @recipestokitchen
πŸ“Œ Pin Recipe

Visual Cues & Timing Secrets

Start by cooking the quinoa – it’s really just like rice, and once it’s done, let it cool completely so the salad doesn’t get soggy. While that cools, toast your walnuts in a dry pan until they smell amazing, and chop your veggies. Whisk the dressing in a small jar or bowl – it comes together in seconds.

Then it’s just a matter of tossing everything together in a big bowl. I like to add the dressing a little at a time, so you can control how coated you want it. The salad tastes even better after it sits for a bit, so don’t worry if you make it ahead.

Head to Page 4 for my Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating Tips plus what to serve alongside this dish!

Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad
πŸ‘©πŸ³ RECIPESTO KITCHEN Β· OFFICIAL TESTED RECIPE CARD

Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad

This cranberry walnut quinoa salad is a hearty blend of fluffy quinoa, tart dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and crisp celery, all tossed in a bright lemon-herb dressing. It's a crowd-pleasing side that's both satisfying and refreshing, perfect for potlucks or a quick weeknight dinner.

πŸ“Œ Pin Recipe to Boardβ˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.9 from Kitchen Testers
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time35 mins
Servings6 servings
CourseAppetizer & Side
Calories320 kcal

πŸ›’ Ingredients (Check Off As You Measure)

🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and let cool to room temperature.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper to make the dressing.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, celery, and red onion.
  4. Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently until everything is well coated.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

πŸ‘©πŸ³ Chef Elena’s Kitchen Notes & Storage

Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant – it makes a world of difference in flavor. This salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container; give it a quick stir before serving and add a splash of lemon juice if it seems dry.

Pinterest Kitchen Tip: Save this recipe to your @recipestokitchen board so you can pull up the ingredient checklist at the grocery store!

Estimated Nutrition (Per Serving):
Calories: 320 kcalProtein: 9gCarbs: 38gFat: 16gFiber: 5g
Chef Elena Rossi
Recipe Developed & Tested By

Chef Elena Rossi

Ciao, I'm Elena! Trained in Florence and based in Chicago, I founded RecipesTo Kitchen (and our @recipestokitchen Pinterest community of 296,580+ monthly home cooks) to share foolproof weeknight dinners, cozy one-pot pastas, and bakery-style desserts that work on the very first try.