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Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe

5 from 98 reviews

This vibrant and refreshing Jennifer Aniston Salad combines protein-packed quinoa and chickpeas with fresh herbs, crunchy pistachios, and tangy feta cheese. Dressed with a zesty lemon and honey vinaigrette, it makes a perfect light lunch or a nutritious side dish full of Mediterranean flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup dry quinoa
  • 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 English cucumber, chopped
  • 1/2 small red onion, minced
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup loosely-packed fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup roasted salted pistachios, chopped
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (4 oz)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Dressing Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup lemon juice (approximately 34 lemons)
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook Quinoa: Rinse the dry quinoa under cold water to remove any bitterness. In a medium saucepan, bring the 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa has absorbed all the liquid and is tender. Remove from heat and let it cool.
  2. Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified and smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  3. Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, chickpeas, chopped cucumber, minced red onion, chopped parsley, chopped mint, chopped pistachios, and crumbled feta cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Toss with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the combined salad ingredients. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated with the lemony vinaigrette.
  5. Chill and Serve: For best flavor, chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

  • You can substitute vegetable stock for chicken stock to keep the salad vegetarian.
  • Adjust lemon juice and honey in the dressing according to your taste preference for more tangy or sweet flavor.
  • For a crunchier texture, toast the pistachios lightly before chopping.
  • This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Feel free to add other fresh herbs like dill or cilantro for variation.

Keywords: Jennifer Aniston Salad, quinoa salad, Mediterranean salad, chickpea salad, healthy salad, feta cheese salad, lemon vinaigrette, summer salad