Lighten Up Your Seasonal Eats With This Cranberry Leek Quinoa Recipe

Veronica Bosgraaf   |  

Sep 10, 2024

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When I start to see fresh organic cranberries pop up in the grocery store, I buy as many bags as I can fit in my freezer. I love cooking with fresh cranberries and freeze them so that I can make my cranberry dishes all year. My kids devour my Curried Cranberry Sauce, which is a year round staple in our house, as well as this wonderful grain dish. Quinoa has a fall feel to me, perhaps because its flavor is so nutty. Combined with squash and cranberries, this dish takes all the good smells and tastes of the season and makes them into a beautiful meal.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 2 cups finely chopped butternut or acorn squash
• 2 leeks white and pale green parts only, washed well and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 1 cup cranberries
• ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar or maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. In a medium saucepan set over high heat, bring the water and quinoa to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the squash and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Add the leeks and sage and cook, stirring, until the squash is tender and the leeks are lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add the cranberries and cook just until they start to pop, about 2 minutes. Stir in the parsley, agave, and lemon juice. Add the cooked quinoa and stir well. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot, warm, at room temperature, or cold.