Warm Quinoa Salad with Brussels Sprouts + Pecans + Cranberries
Remember my sister-Asheville-restaurant binge last week? Well.
We had dinner at a place called Posana Cafe. It's a farm-to-table posh kinda spot, so of course we ordered some things and then we all shared. My braised beef bourginon plate came with Brussels sprouts. One of my sisters ordered a warm quinoa salad that was full of pecans and cranberries, so of course some a that landed in the mish mash of food I taste tested my way through.
The warm quinoa salad invoked unanimous raves all around-- especially mine that got all mixed up with the Brussels sprouts. I came home with the resolve to re-create the whole deal and then a funny thing happened a couple of days later.
Deanna at SOLE Food Kitchen posted almost exactly the warm quinoa salad that I had on my mind. Except she used barley with her Brussels sprouts. Oh and lemon! Hers looks goooood.
This is my super quick and simple version of the inspiration I carried home from my mini-vacation dinner plate.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup red onion, chopped
- 12 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled, more to garnish
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet.
- Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes,
- Add the Brussels sprouts and salt. Set the heat to medium and stir.
- Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to simmer, and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, until all the liquid is soaked and you can fluff the quinoa with a fork.
- Toss the pecans and cranberries into the Brussels sprouts, stir, and cook until the sprouts are tender, the cranberries soften a little, and the nuts get a bit toasty.
- Remove from the heat and toss the Brussels sprout mixture with the quinoa. Add the cheese, stir, and then finish with a little sprinkle more of cheese.
- Serve warm.
What's your favorite way to prepare quinoa?
I really want to try this dish with my family we more variety but I have not never used the quinoa and where would I look for it in the store . PLEASE CAN SOME ONE HELP 🙂
So glad you want to try this! Where you find quinoa may depend on your store. Sometimes I find it with the grains - like rice and couscous. Sometimes it is in the International aisle. But I almost always find it on a high/top shelf so look up! Also, if you have a Big Lots where you live I find quinoa there pretty often and it's marked way down!! Hope this helps! Let me know how it goes! Happy cooking!
Thanks a lot
This is exactly what I'd love to have for lunch!
Meeeee too.
I love quinoa! This looks a great spring salad!! I want to eat it right now.
Loved it. Had the leftovers for lunch for 2 days after I made this. FYI It's good cold, too!
I love brussells sprouts, this looks delicious! Me want some!! haha
Make. It.
I was at our Farmer's Market and I almost picked up brussels sprouts, but got broccoli instead. Darn! About how many little sprouts do you think you used in this dish? Can't wait to give this a try!
Hey Sandra! Sorry it took me all day to answer you back! My Brussels sprouts were pretty big, but 12 ounces by weight. I'd say once I trimmed the ends off and quartered them I had at least 4 cups to toss in the skillet. Broccoli would work well here, too though!
No worries! After I commented, I thought, what a brain fart question! It says 12 ounces in the recipe 😉
So THEN, I made a trip to the store, and proceeded to count my brussels sprouts after weighing them (12 oz was about 15, various sizes!). Oye, is it wine-o'clock yet?
I have to say I have never tried quinoa, I'm not even really sure exactly what it is... but Brussels Sprouts. Well, I had a brussel sprout revelation earlier this year. I DO NOT, DID NOT, WOULD NOT, WILL NOT like brussels sprouts - they were my green eggs and ham. And then, after years, I begrudgingly tried one...and liked it. A lot. So, sprouts are good again, now for this quinoa...
LOL.. you are not gonna believe this but we are also growing Brussels sprouts in our garden.. No Brussels sprouts have come out yet.. But when we do have some, going to make it!
I love love love Brussels sprouts!! I've not tried to grow them and my gardening is up in the air this year because we are planning a move. I'm currently hoarding containers.
Heather, looking at this post makes me so hungry! So many of my favorite flavors together in one salad. I'm craving lots of healthy foods this week after indulging last weekend during our travels. This is a must make!
Omg Easter made me want to drink 18 gallons of water and do yoga for 2 weeks straight-- I seriously overdosed on candy. This salad was definitely one of my remedies.
In other news-- it's really great to hear from you, Sally! Those oatmeal cookies of yours are on my to-do list today:)
I LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS and I don't care who knows it! They're amazing <3 <3 one day we will be married. Also, is it weird I've never had quinoa? Don't disown me.
You must be up to something...no stories of your daily travails here! Where were you feeding the small army of people you mentioned on twitter? Inquiring minds want to know...
Haha no not up to anything. Just lots of deadlines on one day in addition to my little brother visiting & bringing my boys back from my mom-- paired with Chad the 4 of them consume completely unreasonable amounts of food. Sorry this post was so quick and lacking my typical tales-- I'll get it together, I promise!
That quinoa salad was so happy... Thanks for coming up with a tasty recipe I can try at home!!
Super easy, Lindsey. You'll love it!