Lemon Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Lunch

As the family cook, I appreciate how easy this is to throw together on a busy weeknight. Plus, this salad never gets boring. One of my favorite variations is to substitute diced fresh mango for cranberries, cilantro for parsley, and lime for the lemon juice and zest.

Average Rating: 5

TOTAL TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min.
YIELD: 8 servings.

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
3/4 teaspoon salt
SALAD:
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 cup chopped peeled jicama or tart apple
1 cup chopped seeded cucumber
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cubed avocado

Instructions

1. For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients until blended.
2. In a small saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; fluff with a fork. Transfer to a large bowl.
3. Add jicama, cucumber, cranberries, parsley and green onion to quinoa. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold. Gently stir in avocado before serving.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 218 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 370mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges:
2 starch, 2 fat.