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Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad

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

4. Make-Ahead, Storage & Serving Ideas

Welcome to Part 4 of 4 of my kitchen guide for Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad. Whether you are meal-prepping for the week ahead or saving leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch, here is how to keep every bite fresh.

Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad β€” Plating, Storage & Final Recipe Card (Page 4)
Ready to Serve: Delicious Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad Β· By Chef Elena Rossi (@recipestokitchen)
πŸ“Œ Pin Recipe

How to Store, Freeze & Reheat

This salad is wonderful served right away, but it also shines after a few hours in the fridge – the flavors meld together beautifully. For a pretty presentation, I like to serve it in a wide bowl and sprinkle a few extra cranberries and walnuts on top. It’s perfect alongside grilled chicken, salmon, or as a filling for lettuce wraps.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat, let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, and if it seems dry, add a tiny drizzle of olive oil or lemon juice to revive it. I don’t recommend freezing this salad – the texture of the quinoa and veggies will suffer.

πŸ‘©πŸ³ Before You Start Cooking

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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.