
Jennifer Aniston Salad
The viral Jennifer Aniston salad that reportedly kept her fueled on the set of Friends — a hearty, protein-packed bowl of quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, fresh herbs, and crumbled feta tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette. It's filling enough to be a full meal, endlessly customizable, and comes together in under 30 minutes. No wonder the internet can't stop making it.
4 servings · Prep 15 min · Cook 15 min · Total 30 min
Mediterranean · Salad · Lunch
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Main
1 cup quinoa rinsed in a fine-mesh colander
2 cup water for cooking quinoa
1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained
1 medium English cucumber seeded and diced
0.5 cup red onion finely diced
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
0.25 cup fresh mint leaves finely chopped
4 oz feta cheese crumbled
0.25 cup shelled pistachios roughly chopped
Dressing
0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice from about 1½ lemons
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic pressed or minced
0.5 tsp fine sea salt
0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Equipment
Stovetop
Saucepan
Baking Sheet
Mixing Bowl
Pot
Fork
Whisk
Knife
Pan
Cutting Board
Saucepan (1 Quart)
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Dipping Fork
Colander
Instructions
- Combine the rinsed @[Quinoa] and ~[2 cups] of @[Water] in a medium #[Saucepan]. Bring to a boil over ^[medium-high heat], then reduce the heat to ^[low], cover, and simmer for ~[13–15 minutes] until the @[Water] is absorbed and the @[Quinoa] tails have unfurled. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and spread onto a large #[Baking Sheet] to cool to room temperature, about ~[10 minutes].
- In a small #[Mixing Bowl], whisk together the @[Extra-Virgin Olive Oil], fresh @[Lemon Juice], @[Red Wine Vinegar], minced @[Garlic], @[Fine Sea Salt], and @[Black Pepper] until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning — add more @[Lemon Juice] if you want extra brightness.
- In a large #[Mixing Bowl], combine the cooled @[Quinoa], drained @[Chickpeas], diced @[English Cucumber], @[Red Onion], chopped @[Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley], and chopped @[Mint]. Toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss well to coat every ingredient. Fold in the crumbled @[Feta Cheese] and chopped @[Pistachios]. Taste and add more @[Fine Sea Salt], @[Black Pepper], or @[Lemon Juice] as needed. Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for ~[up to 30 minutes] to let the flavors meld — it gets even better as it sits.




