Lemon quinoa with roasted grapes & walnuts

by Running to the Kitchen on May 8, 2012

Remember in middle school when you thought you were so cool and referred to everyone you didn’t like as a “poser”?

I’m sure I’m dating myself saying that because a coworker and I were just talking about how we’re now hiring people in my company that were born in the 90s and my jaw dropped about 5 feet from that realization.

Well if this was 1995, I’d be a poser.

The whole roasted grape thing is so totally not my idea. Stuffed inside of sweet potatoes they intrigued me. Smooshed with goat cheese in a sandwich they convinced me.

So, I decided to jump on the bandwagon because now it’s called being “inspired” and it’s totally cool. I can also hide behind the comfort of my computer screen instead of walking down the hall to some punk ass preteen glares and snide remarks.

The result was about as “poserish” as it gets. Part dessert, part side dish, part breakfast. Part sweet, part tart, part savory.

If quinoa was in style back in the mid 90s, this would’ve fit right in.

Slap some JNCO jeans (mine were about 4 sizes too big and purple) and hoop earrings on it and we would’ve been bff in my 1993 “I live in the suburbs but think I’m from the bronx” ghetto fab days.

4.5 from 2 reviews

Lemon Quinoa with Roasted Grapes & Walnuts
 
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If you’ve never tried roasting grapes, this side dish is the perfect way to enjoy both the sweet and savory side of them.
Author:
Recipe type: side dish
Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups red seedless grapes
  • 2 tablespoons honey, divided
  • 1 cup cooked red quinoa
  • ¼ cup almonds, roughly chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoons feta
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • salt & pepper

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Lay grapes on baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of honey, salt & pepper.
  3. Roast grapes for about 15 minutes until they start to wrinkle and pop.
  4. While grapes are roasting, combine quinoa, almonds and feta in a large bowl.
  5. In a separate small bowl whisk together remaining tablespoon of honey & lemon juice.
  6. Add roasted grapes to the bowl with quinoa and toss to combine.
  7. Pour honey & lemon dressing on top and toss together.
  8. Season with additional salt & pepper.
  9. Serve warm or cold.

 

{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }

1 katie @KatieDid May 8, 2012 at 8:34 am

I’ve been seeing these roasted grape dishes around too and I’ve been more than intrigued. Warm grapes? hmmm. I was born in the 90s so my memories of that decade involve stretchy leggings and lots of brittney spears music, that’s about it.

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2 Running to the Kitchen May 8, 2012 at 1:13 pm

oh my gosh, you were probably not even 10 when Brittany came out…that makes me feel so old! haha

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3 Cait's Plate May 8, 2012 at 9:04 am

Ahahaha – I haven’t thought about the word “poser” in such a long time but that really takes me back.

Our brains must’ve been on the same wavelength because I made a wheat berry salad – only I used apples and not grapes. This post makes me seriously consider the whole roasted grapes thing…

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4 Running to the Kitchen May 8, 2012 at 1:13 pm

yummmm. Love wheatberries. Now I want to remake this with those, it’s by far my favorite grain.

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5 Erin @ Texanerin Baking May 8, 2012 at 9:42 am

I don’t like quinoa, roasted grapes OR walnuts but your pictures are stunning! Especially the first one. I keep scrolling up. It’s just so… mesmerizing! What an insanely beautiful photo. And hiring people born in the 90s for “real” jobs does sound weird. And depressing. I’m 27 and still don’t have what I’d call a “real” job. Okay, I’m leaving now. I’ve really scrolled up to look at that first picture about 15 times now.

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6 Running to the Kitchen May 8, 2012 at 1:12 pm

haha, thanks Erin :)

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7 Kathryn May 8, 2012 at 9:59 am

Man, I miss the 90s. I’ve had roasted grapes in a dessert but I really need to get on board with the whole savoury thing too – this looks so good.

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8 Megan {Country Cleaver} May 8, 2012 at 10:31 am

I can’t believe you just busted out the JNCO jeans reference… I swear to The Guy from High Atop the Thing that I saw someone wearing them last week and I almost died. I just didn’t know who to tell about it. I should have told you!! From now on – we tell each other of our JNCO jeans sightings… Deal? Deal.

And this dish might be “poser” circa 1995 – but I’d totally devour it. Like, totally.

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9 Running to the Kitchen May 8, 2012 at 1:11 pm

I’m so glad I’m not the only one out there that remembers those! I seriously thought no one would get that reference.

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10 Kierston May 8, 2012 at 10:39 am

Looks amazing! Pinned and Tweeted! Yummers!

The 90′s…I was totally rocking my Winnie The Pooh Hoodie. Damn I was cool.

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11 Margarita May 8, 2012 at 11:03 am

I love grapes and just bought some at the store this weekend. They were so good, sweet and crispy, the way I like it and they didn’t last very long. We ate everything in three days. I would have to make another trip to the store to try a roasted version. All the ingredients in this dish sound so incredibly delicious together!

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12 Averie @ Averie Cooks May 8, 2012 at 11:09 am

Roasted grapes are a big yum factor item for me. They can do no wrong. I say this every post, but gorgeous pics!

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13 Julie @ Table for Two May 8, 2012 at 11:22 am

i miss the 90s so much! you know, i used to have a pair of jeans (that i thought were super cool) that had pockets on each leg (at the bottom) and i thought i was AWESOME so i put pencils & pens in there hahahaha…great recipe here! simple and easy, especially with delicious quinoa!

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14 Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables May 8, 2012 at 11:29 am

I love roasted grapes and quinoa together. Add some goat cheese and it’s awesome.

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15 Cassie May 8, 2012 at 12:53 pm

You are pretty brilliant, my friend. And I think I might make this for dinner tonight. I absolutely loved the roasted grapes, and I love that I felt like I was eating dessert for dinner. So awesome! And thanks for the link! :)

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16 Tina @ Best Body Fitness May 8, 2012 at 1:00 pm

It sounds so odd…but so right!

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17 Steve @ the black peppercorn May 8, 2012 at 2:12 pm

Roasted grapes are wonderful and they do turn a salad into something dessert like. This looks incredible with the quinoa which I am a huge fan of!!!

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18 Steve @ the black peppercorn May 8, 2012 at 2:13 pm

BTW – those photos are awesome. Look great!

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19 Gina May 8, 2012 at 4:32 pm

Thanks, Steve!

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20 Julia {The Roasted Root} May 8, 2012 at 2:38 pm

JNCO jeans were the BOMB…especially the ones with the HUUUGE baggy leggs and vibrant colored fabric on the sides. Holy cow, that just takes me back. Your quinoa recipe is rad. ;)

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21 Cinnamon @ eatpraytri May 8, 2012 at 3:35 pm

I’ve only eaten quinoa like once before I think and I loved it but I am intimidated to make it. This combination looks pretty darn good though. The sweet and the crunchy…Hmmm…

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22 Gina May 8, 2012 at 4:33 pm

Oh my gosh, don’t be intimidated. Quinoa is even easier than rice!

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23 Jess @athriftyfoodie May 8, 2012 at 4:21 pm

wow, looks great. ive never had roasted grapes, but im on a quinoa kick so this looks right up my alley!

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24 StoriesAndSweetPotatoes May 8, 2012 at 4:33 pm

Wow. This is some hi-brow quinoa :)

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25 Hayley @ Running Down the Runway May 8, 2012 at 4:42 pm

I just cooked up a big batch of quinoa last night, so this is most likely going to be my dinner- it looks delicious!

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26 Dhyan May 8, 2012 at 7:49 pm

I just love grapes but I am not sure if this will be loved by my family especially my kids.. Anyway, thanks for the recipe..

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27 Jamie @ Thrifty Veggie Mama May 8, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Still haven’t tried the roasted grapes but this just might convince me! I typically love all things roasted.

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28 Baking Serendipity May 8, 2012 at 11:25 pm

I don’t even remember the last time I saw or heard the word poser! Totally smiled at that one :) I love the roasted grapes in this!

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29 jennifer May 9, 2012 at 1:12 am

This looks wonderful. Maybe it will be the way I finally convince my family to eat quinoa. Were the almonds a last minute change? (the recipe is titled ‘…and walnuts’ but calls for and the pictures are clearly of almonds)

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30 Running to the Kitchen May 9, 2012 at 1:21 am

Ha! No, they weren’t that’s just apparently me completely flaking out and mis-titling the post. Wow. I can’t believe this went an entire day before a. I realized it or b. someone pointed it out! Thank you, I can’t believe I did that!

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31 Carol May 9, 2012 at 4:52 am

Wow. this recipe is really AWESOME! I bet this is great to try :) thanks for this share.

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32 Vicky May 9, 2012 at 9:11 am

I have never tried roasting grapes before but am definitely intrigued by this recipe! Fully enjoyed your post overall haha – “I live in the suburbs but think I’m from the bronx” ghetto fab days.” — well said!

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33 Ally May 9, 2012 at 10:34 am

Such a unique recipe… roasted grapes, here I come!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/

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34 Leonor @FoodFaithFitness May 9, 2012 at 12:34 pm

Now I feel old, I don’t even know what NCO jeans are. Down south, it was all about Bongo jeans.

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35 Angela @ Sleep and Repeat May 9, 2012 at 8:44 pm

I actually made something similar to this tonight! Quinoa with roasted grapes, chopped walnuts, and goat cheese. Roasted grapes are a winner!

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36 Regan @ The Professional Palate May 11, 2012 at 8:29 am

A couple of thoughts:

-I’ve been wanting to try the roasted grape route, too.

-I’m still a slave to hoop earrings ;-)

-SHS Class of ’93. Fresh out.

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37 Running to the Kitchen May 11, 2012 at 10:13 am

You MUST do the roasted grape thing! Strawberries are next on my list ;)

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