Pomegranate Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Pomegranate Cranberry Quinoa Salad

I think I’m probably the last food blogger to try quinoa. Seriously, I don’t know what was holding me back for so long, but once I tried it I never looked back.

You want to know another food that I’ve never tried until now? Pomegranate. Lame? Yes. But hey, I’m putting myself out there and trying these new foods. Better late than never. I saw this recipe pop up on Katie’s blog soon after watching the Good Eats episode about pomegranates. Alton Brown said that pomegranates or their seeds will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 2 months! So you could grab some at the store now while they’re in season and still be enjoying them in the spring.

Hubby and I thouroughly enjoyed this quinoa salad. The pomegranate seeds provide not only sweetness but also a fun little burst of juice and a crunch as you bite into them. I made two batches of this colorful side dish in one weekend we enjoyed it so much!

What new foods have you been wanting to try?

One Year Ago: Gingerbread Apple Upside Down Cake and Gooey Bars
Two Years Ago: Inauguration Day Cupcakes
Three Years Ago: Clam Chowder

Pomegranate Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken stock
1 cup quinoa
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Juice of 1/2 an orange
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbs slivered almonds

Directions:

Start by bringing the chicken stock to a boil. Add the quinoa, cover and reduce head to low. Let the quinoa simmer until the liquid has evaporated.

Once the quinoa is done, set it aside and let it cool slightly.

Once the quinoa has cooled slightly, add the orange juice and cranberries. Toss to combine, salt and pepper to taste. Gently mix in the pomegranate seeds and top with almonds. Serve either warm, room temperature or cold.

Recipe from The Small Boston Kitchen

Side Dish

13 comments »

17 Responses to “Friday Faves – The Small Boston Kitchen makes Cranberry Risotto Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms”

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Lauren — January 7, 2011 at 1:13 pm

I’m not a huge mushroom fan, but the cranberry risotto sounds absolutely fantastic! Thanks for the idea, Katie :).
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2

Fun and Fearless in Beantown — January 7, 2011 at 2:51 pm

What a great recipe Katie!
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Daisy — January 7, 2011 at 3:02 pm

I am in awe of your description of mushrooms. that recipe is awesome and so is the idea to cook them in butter and red wine! if non mushroom lovers are not converted after this post, there is no help for them!!
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Erica — January 7, 2011 at 3:29 pm

This comment has been removed by the author.
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Jennifer — January 7, 2011 at 3:29 pm

I am a huge mushroom lover. This recipe sounds wonderful!
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In and Around Town — January 7, 2011 at 3:33 pm

I am a HUGE fan of mushrooms, I put them in everything! This will probably be dinner tonight!
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Sarah from 20somethingcupcakes — January 7, 2011 at 3:55 pm

I’m definitely with you in the first camp, though I will tell you – I’ve converted the boyfriend into a semi-mushroom lover, so maybe there is a person who lies a bit in between after all! This looks heavenly.
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8

Smitten Sugar — January 7, 2011 at 5:05 pm

I am definitely not a mushroom lover but this recipe looks amazing!
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Megan — January 7, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Katie can make these for me anytime! Great recipe and great guest post!
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Josie — January 7, 2011 at 7:00 pm

OMG this combines so many of my favorite things into one dish! I’ve already added it to next week’s menu. Thanks so much for introducing me to a fun new blog!
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Melissa — January 7, 2011 at 8:28 pm

I’m on the verge of being a mushroom lover – when raw the texture creeps me out but I’ve discovered I love the flavor and like them when cooked. I would love to eat this dish!
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kitchenmisfit — January 7, 2011 at 11:58 pm

It is bad that I thought the sneak peak picture looked like mashed potatoes? That can only mean the risotto must be extra creamy!
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kitchenmisfit — January 7, 2011 at 11:59 pm

It is bad that I thought the sneak peak picture looked like mashed potatoes? I think that just means this risotto must be extra creamy!
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The Small Boston Kitchen — January 8, 2011 at 4:28 pm

Thanks Jen for including me in your Friday Faves and for saying such nice things about my writing! This dish was fun to make and was really good on a cold winter night. Thanks all for the comments! Even those from the mushroom haters 🙂
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Maris (In Good Taste) — January 8, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Aren’t portobello mushrooms the best? So many different things you can do with them!
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John at BOS — January 9, 2011 at 2:14 am

What more Can I say, a combination of my favorite ingredients… Mushroom and risotto! It’s nice to see a lot of mushroom recipe’s this past few days.
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Kerstin — January 10, 2011 at 5:03 am

What a creative recipe, I love it! Definitely the perfect way to kick off your cool Friday Favs feature 🙂