Quinoa Pilaf with walnuts and dried cherries. This is one amazing quinoa recipe. Walnuts, for crunch; thyme and black pepper for a nice bite.
This is my favorite way to make quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), a great substitute for rice and better for you! Not a grain, it is actually the seed of a plant related to Swiss chard, full of protein, potassium, magnesium and iron. The black pepper and ground thyme star in this great dish. Cook’s note; I have made this quinoa pilaf with fresh thyme, dried thyme leaves (as pictured) and ground thyme. The ground thyme gives the most flavor. If using fresh or dried leaves, add more.
Try this dish and see if you don’t add it as a go-to favorite to always have in the fridge, delicious hot or cold.
Quinoa Pilaf with Walnuts and Dried Cherries
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups quinoa
- 1 ⅛ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground Thyme
- 2 cups boiling water
- ½ cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup dried cherries or cranberries
Instructions
- Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in nonstick Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized, about 10 minutes.
- While onion is cooking, rinse 2 cups quinoa in sieve.
- Add the quinoa to the onion in Dutch oven. Stir in 1 ⅛ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper and ½ teaspoon thyme. Stir in 2 cups boiling water. Cover, and gently boil for 10 minutes until the water is mostly absorbed. Uncover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has all been absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cherries and walnuts. Serve hot, at room temperature, or chilled (my favorite). You may omit cherries if you’re wanting to cut the sugar grams down even more and it will still be delicious!
Adapted from Cooking Smart For A Healthy Heart Cookbook
DELICIOUS and EASY! I added fresh cherry tomatoes from my garden and it turned out amazing! Always great recipes on GDM.
Thanks, Josie. This recipe is one of my first on the blog but continues to be a favorite. I’m glad you liked it too!
I have made this twice now and LOVE IT! So does my husband!
Simple and Delicious!
I made this with some very slight changes. I used vegetable stock, reducing salt to compensate, then included chopped dried apricots along with dried cherries.
Thanks Tony! This was one of the first recipes I ever posted and remains a simple favorite. I like your changes and really appreciate you taking the time to comment. It means a lot!
I loved this hot! Or maybe I just loved it too much…none of it made it to the fridge to cool down. Five stars!
whats is small red round in vegetable quinoa pilaf with walnut
They are dried cherries.