Weight Watchers Cranberry Quinoa Salad Recipe
Weight Watchers Cranberry Quinoa Salad is a fantastic choice for anyone who loves a mix of flavors and textures in their meals. It’s packed with ingredients like quinoa, which is known for its nutty taste and fluffy texture.
The salad gets a sweet and tangy kick from cranberries, making it a real crowd-pleaser. You’ll also find crunchy almonds and fresh veggies like red and yellow bell peppers, along with carrots that add a nice color pop and crunch.
The addition of lime juice and cilantro brings a fresh, zesty twist, while curry powder gives it a unique, slightly spicy edge.
This salad is super versatile. It’s great on its own for a light lunch or as a side dish with your favorite main course. Think grilled chicken or fish – they pair wonderfully with it.
Weight Watchers Points
5 Points (2022/2023 Plan)
MyWW Points: 6 Blue Plan and 6 Green Plan
6 WW Freestyle Points and 6 Smart Points
Tips and Tricks
Quinoa Cooking
To enhance the flavor of your quinoa, cook it in vegetable or chicken broth instead of water. This adds a subtle savory taste that complements the other ingredients.
Cooling Quinoa
To cool the quinoa faster, spread it out on a baking sheet after cooking. This helps it cool evenly and prevents clumping.
Toasting Almonds
For a richer flavor, toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until they are golden brown and fragrant. This brings out their natural oils and enhances their crunch.
Ingredient Substitutions
If you don’t have dried cranberries, you can use raisins or chopped dried apricots. They provide a similar sweetness and texture to the salad.
Spice Adjustments
Feel free to adjust the amount of curry powder based on your spice preference. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you like a bit of heat.
Serving Suggestions
This quinoa salad can be served as a main dish or a side. It pairs well with grilled chicken or fish for a complete meal.
Make-Ahead Tips
Prepare this salad a day in advance to allow the flavors to meld together. Just give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing and ingredients.
Storage Tips
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This salad is also great for meal prep as it holds up well and maintains its texture.
Related Recipes
Weight Watchers Spicy Quinoa Salad
Weight Watchers Cranberry Pear Salad
Weight Watchers Fall Salad With Cider Dressing
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Weight Watchers Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cups water
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed
- ¼ cup red bell pepper chopped
- ¼ cup yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 small red onion finely chopped
- 1½ teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 lime juiced
- ¼ cup toasted almonds sliced
- ½ cup carrots minced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour water into a large saucepan and cover it with a lid.
- Heat the saucepan on high until the water boils.
- Add quinoa to the boiling water, then cover the saucepan again.
- Turn the heat down to low and let the quinoa simmer until it absorbs all the water. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Once the quinoa is cooked, move it to a mixing bowl.
- Place the bowl in the refrigerator to cool the quinoa down.
- When the quinoa is cold, add red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, red onion, curry powder, cilantro, lime juice, sliced almonds, carrots, and cranberries to the bowl. Mix well.
- Add salt and pepper according to your taste.
- Put the bowl back in the refrigerator to chill before you serve it.
Notes
Nutrition
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