Golden Cranberry Herb (Printable)
Vibrant blend of golden quinoa, cranberries, and fresh herbs, perfect as a flavorful side dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup golden quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
→ Fruits
03 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries
→ Fresh Herbs
04 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
→ Seasonings & Dressing
07 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Additions
11 - 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring vegetable broth or water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender and liquid is absorbed.
02 - Remove from heat and let quinoa sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork.
03 - Stir dried cranberries into hot quinoa to soften them.
04 - Transfer quinoa to a large bowl. Add parsley, dill, thyme, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to blend flavors.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
06 - Sprinkle toasted sliced almonds over the dish just before serving if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 40 minutes with almost zero fuss, leaving you energy for everything else on the table.
- The combination of bright herbs and tart cranberries makes any protein taste like you planned this dinner for weeks.
- It tastes just as good warm, room temperature, or cold the next day, giving you flexibility you rarely find in side dishes.
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the quinoa—it removes a bitter coating that will ruin the whole dish if left behind.
- The herbs must be fresh, not dried; dried herbs here would taste stale and defeat the whole purpose of what makes this dish come alive.
- Taste as you go with the lemon and salt—these amounts are just a guide, and your palate is the real judge.
03 -
- Toast the almonds yourself in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes if you want maximum crunch and flavor—store-bought toasted almonds sometimes taste tired.
- Add the herbs and dressing to warm quinoa, not cold, so the grains absorb the flavors fully and become more cohesive.