Cranberry and Orange Quinoa Salad with Toasted Pecans

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A refreshing and colorful quinoa salad tossed with tart cranberries, fresh orange segments, and crunchy toasted pecans. This Mediterranean-inspired Christmas recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, dried cranberries for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork; let cool slightly.
  2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, toast 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
  3. Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 2 peeled and segmented oranges, and the toasted pecans. Whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then pour over the quinoa mixture.
  4. Step 4: Toss gently until everything is evenly coated. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley just before serving for a fresh herbal note.

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