January 26, 2026 //
Lori Becker //
Recipes //
3 min read
Just because it's winter doesn't mean we have to completely forget about salads. Salads are a great way to incorporate greens and seasonal fruits and veggies into your meals! However, to get that hearty feeling that soup gives us, we need to step our salads up. Try adding Quinoa to your salads for a more robust and filling wintertime side! Quinoa can boost your digestive health, cut your colon cancer risk, help control your hunger, and lower your risk of diabetes. Give it a try with this Cranberry Apple Quinoa salad from Makinzie at Delish!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water or low-sodium vegetable broth
3/4 cup tricolor quinoa, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 large bunch curly kale (about 5 oz.), roughly chopped
Kosher salt
2 medium unpeeled apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, chopped
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/3 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
2 oz. crumbled feta
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. honey
Juice of 1 lemon
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring water to a boil. Add quinoa and reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer until water is absorbed and quinoa is softened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Fluff with a fork, then add cranberries on top. Cover and let steam 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place kale in a large bowl; season with 1 teaspoon salt. Massage kale with your hands to combine, about 1 minute. Add quinoa, cranberries, apples, onion, pecans, and feta to kale and toss to combine.
In a small bowl, whisk mustard, oil, honey, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes; season with salt and black pepper.
Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine.
Why We Love this One…
✔️ Complete plant protein: Quinoa offers all nine essential amino acids, supporting muscle repair and steady energy. ✔️ Heart-healthy fats & fiber: Pecans (or walnuts) add good fats and fiber for digestion and cardiovascular health. ✔️ Vitamin- and antioxidant-rich fruits: Apples and dried cranberries deliver vitamins C and A plus antioxidants to protect cells. ✔️ Bone- and mineral-supporting dairy: Feta (optional) provides calcium and protein for bone and muscle strength. ✔️ Anti-inflammatory olive oil dressing: Extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice help reduce inflammation and support nutrient absorption. ✔️ Hydration & electrolyte support: Using low-sodium broth or water to cook quinoa helps maintain mineral balance and hydration. ✔️ Gluten-free base: Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, making the salad suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.
