Quinoa Pilaf with Walnuts and Dried Cherries

5 from 3 votes

Quinoa Pilaf with Walnuts and Dried Cherries

This is a great side dish or makes a delicious lunch or snack all on its own. Serve warm, room temperature- it's even better cold! If you can find dried cherries, they are better than the cranberries because they're not overly sweet, but cranberries are still tasty. Or to make this dish even lower in sugar, omit the dried fruit altogether.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Healthy

Servings:

Calories: 366kcal

Author: Good Dinner Mom

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!

Nutrition