Print

The Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 130 reviews

The Jennifer Aniston Salad is a vibrant and refreshing quinoa and chickpea salad featuring a zesty lemon dressing, fresh herbs, crunchy pistachios, and creamy feta. This nutritious Mediterranean-inspired dish combines bright citrus flavors with wholesome ingredients, making it a perfect light lunch or side dish that can be prepared ahead of time.

Ingredients

Scale

Dressing

  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from 1 medium lemon)
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (juice of 2 lemons)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Salad

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 15 ounces chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed)
  • 1 small cucumber, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup roasted pistachios, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons of lemon zest, 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 3/4 teaspoon fine salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Whisk all ingredients together thoroughly until well emulsified. The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
  2. Cook the quinoa: Prepare the quinoa according to package instructions. Typically, 3/4 cup dry quinoa yields about 2 cups cooked. Cooking in advance is possible and recommended to save time, with the quinoa kept refrigerated for up to 3 days before assembling the salad.
  3. Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked quinoa, drained and rinsed chickpeas, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, fresh Italian parsley, fresh mint leaves, chopped roasted pistachios, and crumbled feta cheese. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, and if desired, more lemon juice for brightness. Toss the mixture gently to distribute all ingredients evenly.
  4. Dress the salad: Re-whisk the prepared lemon dressing to remix before pouring it over the tossed salad. Toss the salad again carefully to ensure every bite is coated with the flavorful dressing.

Notes

  • The dressing and quinoa can both be prepared up to 3 days ahead, making this salad excellent for meal prep and easy entertaining.
  • Adjust lemon juice and seasoning according to personal preference for brightness and saltiness.
  • For a vegan version, substitute the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar and omit the feta cheese or replace it with a plant-based alternative.
  • Make sure to rinse the canned chickpeas thoroughly to reduce sodium content and remove the canned flavor.
  • Roasted pistachios add a nice crunch and nuttiness; toast raw pistachios lightly if substituting.

Keywords: Jennifer Aniston Salad, quinoa salad, chickpea salad, lemon dressing, Mediterranean salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, make-ahead salad

Find it online: https://todayfoodrecipe.com/the-jennifer-aniston-salad-recipe/