Fall Quinoa Pilaf with Cauliflower, Pecans and Cranberries

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You’re going to swoon over this Fall Quinoa Pilaf with cauliflower. It’s got a bouquet of flavors and textures, is super easy to make, and makes the PERFECT side dish for Thanksgiving or any occasion. Pecans, peas, cranberries, leeks, and thyme just work together.

pilaf of quinoa and cauliflower with pecans, peas and cranberries

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1 This Fall Pilaf is For You!

2 Simple Ingredients

3 Step by Step Fall Quinoa Pilaf

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You Might Also Enjoy

6 Fall Quinoa Pilaf with Cauliflower

Thanksgiving can often seem overwhelming for us. Us, the home cooks, the mamas, the papas, the spatula-wielding, apron sporting, what’s the glob of dried food on my shorts, love to feed the masses kind of people.

This Fall Pilaf is For You!

Thanksgiving is still hard. It’s a puzzle of temperatures, serving sizes, and cooking times. A huge meal composed of various intricate meals. Now make that from scratch, paleo, healthy, and yes so delicious none of your guests will think twice about that thing called gluten…. with this side dish you can WOW the family with an easy and healthy recipe.

This Fall Quinoa Pilaf with Cauliflower is a veritable rainbow of flavors, colors, and textures. The peas and make this dish kid-friendly and add a nice heartiness. Organic dried cranberries add sweetness, while pecans add crunch.

Simple Ingredients

I prefer to use fresh cauliflower pearls instead of frozen cauliflower rice for fall pilaf because it adds to the texture. But you can use what you have on hand.
Quinoa is not an ingredient you have seen on this blog before, but I rather like this pseudo-grain that’s more seed than grain. The tri-color quinoa is nutty and delicious and perfect for this Fall Quinoa Pilaf.
Dried cranberries add a touch of sweetness, aim for ones that do not have added sugars.
Leek instead of onion for a sweet flavor, you can also use shallots here.

quinoa pilaf with cauliflower, pecans and peas

Step by Step Fall Quinoa Pilaf

Start with cooked quinoa – you can make it ahead of time or use a steamer pack. I will include instruction in the recipe card. You also want to prepare your ingredients.
Sautee the thyme, leek and garlic in olive oil until tender.
Add in the cauliflower rice and then the peas and pecans, and cook until tender, mixing in the seasoning.

making quinoa cauliflower pilaf with pecans

Once this mix is well incorporated, the cauliflower tender and the pecans browned, add in the cranberries and mix well.
Then add in the cooked quinoa, and stir and mix until it’s well incorporated.

Serve your Quinoa and Cauliflower Pilaf hot and garnish with fresh herbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I don’t eat grains can I skip the quinoa?

Yes, just use 4 cups of cauliflower rice.

Can I skip the peas or use something else?

You can use cut-up green beans instead or leave them out.

How do you cook quinoa?

I just follow the package instructions!