Quinoa Salad with Hazelnuts, Apple, and Dried Cranberries

Name: Quinoa Salad with Hazelnuts, Apple, and Dried Cranberries
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well; 1 1/2 cup water, for quinoa; 1 tablespoon of olive oil; 1 small onion, finely diced; 2 stalks of celery, finely diced; 1 cup hazelnuts, toasted, de-skinned and chopped; 1 bunch (about 5 to 6) green onions, chopped (green parts only); 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped * see note; 1 bunch flat leaf parsley, thoroughly rinsed and chopped; 1 gala apple (really, any kind of apple will do); 1 large lemon, juiced; Generous drizzle of any kind of oil (I like hazelnut); Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

While pregnant with my little girl, I was on a quest to find a great quinoa salad; after much tinkering, I came up with this. I love this salad because I usually have every ingredient on hand. If I don't have hazelnuts, I add almonds instead. No apples? Pears! No cranberries? Raisins! It's a fairly forgiving and flexible recipe. I recommend using good quality dried cranberries. Craisins work but they tend to turn the salad a pinkish hue after a few hours, and I find they're too sweet.

Updated at: Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:08:52 GMT