The viral TikTok “Jennifer Aniston salad” — a fresh, herby grain salad with quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, feta, and pistachios in a bright lemon dressing. Light, filling, and great for meal prep.
5
servings
Ingredients
- 1.3 cups quinoa, uncooked
- 2.5 cups water
- 1.3 can chickpeas (15 oz), drained and rinsed
- 1.3 English cucumber, diced
- 0.4 cups red onion, finely diced
- 0.6 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 0.3 cups fresh mint, finely chopped
- 0.9 cups crumbled feta cheese
- 0.6 cups shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
- 0.3 cups olive oil
- 1.3 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1.3 teaspoons honey
- 0.6 teaspoons salt
- 0.3 teaspoons black pepper
Steps
1
Cook the quinoa: Rinse 1.3 cups quinoa, uncooked under cold water, then add to a saucepan with 2.5 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a low simmer, cover, and cook until the water is absorbed.2
Cool the quinoa: Remove the quinoa from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes 05:00
, then fluff with a fork and spread it on a baking sheet or wide plate to cool to room temperature.3
Combine the base: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa with 1.3 can chickpeas (15 oz), drained and rinsed, 1.3 English cucumber, diced, 0.4 cups red onion, finely diced, 0.6 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped, and 0.3 cups fresh mint, finely chopped.4
Make the lemon dressing: In a small jar or bowl, whisk together 0.3 cups olive oil, the juice and zest of 1.3 lemon, juiced and zested, 1.3 teaspoons honey, 0.6 teaspoons salt, and 0.3 teaspoons black pepper until well combined.5
Dress and add toppings: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well, then fold in 0.9 cups crumbled feta cheese and 0.6 cups shelled pistachios, roughly chopped just before serving.
Notes
Bulgur wheat can be swapped in for quinoa for a closer match to the original viral version, though quinoa keeps it gluten-free. Soaking the diced red onion in cold water for 5-10 minutes mellows its bite if you prefer a milder flavor. If meal prepping, keep the cucumber and pistachios separate and add them just before eating, since both can turn soggy after a couple of days in the fridge.