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
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
WOW – I would like to have a piece of that cake as soon as possible! looks beautiful and delicious!
This cake looks beautiful and I love the addition of toasted coconut!
I love love cakes with coconut. So delicious.
Beautiful cake!
Totally agree – the more layers the better! The cake looks stunning!
Had I been at your dinner party you wouldn’t have had to cook anything. I would have just completely indulged in this gorgeous cake!
This cake looks incredible! coconut and lemon are two of my favorite flavors; I’m glad you don’t have to choose one or the other with this recipe.
This sounds wonderful. Coconut with lemon curd, yummmm!
This looks fantastic – so springy and beautiful, and absolutely delish 🙂
what a wonderful cake!
Beautiful cake! I’ve been craving a coconut cake, but I know too many people who don’t like coconut cake that if I made it I wouldn’t have anyone to share. Boo.
ooh, fabulous. love the lemon curd-coconut combo, and in a layer cake, fun!!
OF COURSE 4 is better than 2!!! This looks amazing….I love the idea of lemon and coconut together-and it’s gorgeous!
Love lemon curd, love coconut, especially love a cake that lets me “frost” the sides with ease. This looks so yummy!!
Such a delicious cake! I honestly didn’t know a 6 inch was half of a 9 inch….thank you 🙂
I told my girlfriend I would bake her a cake for her birthday this Sunday !!! I got lemon curd and coconut stuck in my brain, so I started googling… which led me to your page !!! This recipie looks almost perfect !!
Couple questions…
Do you think the coconut extract was too strong for the cake, because you also have the browned coconut pcs too? I was considering vanilla bean cake, lemon curd and toasted coconut on the outside… but perhaps that wouldn’t be enough coconut flavour…. your thoughts?
Lastly… what did you use as the frosting to keep the toasted coconut on? It looks like whipping cream…. ?!?!?
Thanks !!!
Kelly
P.S
This is the first cake I’ve ever baked !!! lol