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Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad

A delightful salad featuring quinoa, tart cranberries, sweet apples, and crunchy walnuts, perfect for potlucks, brunches, or weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked Rinse before cooking to remove bitterness.
  • 1 cup cranberries, fresh or dried Choose according to preference.
  • 1 piece apple, diced A tart variety like Granny Smith is recommended.
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped Optional but adds delightful crunch.
Dressing
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey) Maple syrup for vegan option.
  • to taste Salt and pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cranberries, diced apple, red onion, and chopped walnuts if you’re using them.
  2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and season with salt and pepper to taste to create your dressing.
  3. Pour the dressing over your salad and gently toss everything together so each ingredient is well-coated.
  4. Serve chilled or at room temperature, allowing the flavors to mingle beautifully as they sit.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, where they can last up to 3 days. For longer storage, separate the salad from the dressing. Consider adding walnuts just before serving to maintain their crunch.