Description
A fresh and vibrant cranberry quinoa feta salad combining fluffy quinoa, tangy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy slivered almonds, all tossed in a zesty honey lemon Dijon dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or a flavorful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa Salad
- 1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup green scallions (thinly sliced)
- 3/4 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 3/4 cup slivered almonds (preferably raw)
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Quinoa: Rinse 1 cup quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove bitterness and ensure fluffiness. In a medium pot, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups vegetable broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. After simmering, turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes to absorb liquid and steam.
- Make the Dressing: While quinoa cooks and cools slightly, whisk together 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp honey, and 2 minced garlic cloves in a small bowl. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Prepare Salad Ingredients: Slice 1/2 cup green scallions thinly, chop 1/2 cup fresh parsley, and measure out 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 3/4 cup slivered almonds to have all ingredients ready for assembly.
- Assemble the Salad: Fluff the cooked quinoa gently with a fork and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Let it cool completely to avoid melting the feta. Once cool, add the sliced scallions, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, chopped parsley, and 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese to the quinoa.
- Toss and Season: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients and toss thoroughly until everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more salt or lemon juice if desired.
Notes
- Rinsing the quinoa before cooking helps remove bitterness and improves texture.
- Letting the quinoa cool before adding feta prevents cheese from melting.
- Raw slivered almonds add a nice crunch, but toasted almonds can also be used for extra flavor.
- This salad can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, making it great for meal prep.
- Adjust honey in the dressing to taste, especially if you prefer it less sweet.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: cranberry quinoa salad, feta quinoa salad, healthy quinoa recipes, vegetarian quinoa salad, honey lemon dressing, Mediterranean salad
