Quinoa, chickpeas, fresh veggies, herbs and feta cheese come together in this light, refreshing salad that’s perfect for lunch, or as a side to any healthy meal.
According to urban legend, this Quinoa and Chickpea Salad with cucumber, fresh herbs and feta cheese is what Jennifer Aniston ate for lunch every single day while taping Friends.
Who knows if that’s actually true, but this healthy, refreshing salad is certainly delicious enough to eat every day. Okay, maybe not for 10 years straight.
But it’s good enough to eat pretty regularly, and absolutely perfect for a quick lunch, or for taking to work all week. It’s definitely my new favorite salad!
I always use quinoa in this recipe, although bulgur, cous cous and even orzo pasta are all good substitutions. As always, feel free to add more or less of any of the ingredients, depending on your preferences.
And I always keep the pistachios separate and add them just before serving. That way I can keep this salad in the refrigerator for almost a week and the nuts are always crunchy.
Toasted slivered almonds are a great sub for pistachios, or if you prefer, just leave the nuts out altogether. This recipe is pretty versatile and forgiving, so don’t feel like you have to follow the ingredient list exactly.
One of my favorite things about this salad is all the fresh herbs, especially the fresh mint. That’s the one ingredient I wouldn’t omit, but I really love fresh mint, and I think it takes this salad to a whole new level.
This recipe makes enough for me to have for lunch for an entire week, and I really am happy to eat it that often. It’s just that good.
And since my husband and kids aren’t fans of chickpeas, I don’t have to worry about anyone else around here eating my salad. They are totally missing out though, because this salad is amazing!
Whether or not this Jen Aniston Salad was consumed daily on the set of Friends we may never know for sure, but I am absolutely positive that you are going to love it.
Be sure to save this Jennifer Aniston Salad (Quinoa and Chickpea Salad) recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Jennifer Aniston Salad (Quinoa and Chickpea Salad)
- Quinoa
- Produce: cucumber, parsley, mint, red onions, lemons
- Pistachios
- Canned chickpeas
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Feta cheese
Jennifer Aniston Salad (Quinoa and Chickpea Salad)
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1 medium cucumber diced
- 1/3 cup parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup mint chopped
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 4-6 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup pistachios chopped
Equipment
- Wooden Spoons
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Rinse under cool water and drain. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Stir in cucumber, parsley, mint, red onion and chickpeas.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and lemon juice. Pour over salad and toss to coat well. Stir in feta cheese. Season with salt and pepper, to taste
- Chill until ready to serve. Add pistachios just before serving.
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Eating Bird Food
1 comment
Elizabeth
Such a healthy filling salad. I make a big batch and it disappears! The mint adds so much freshness and there is a lot of crunch. Very filling!