Description
Jennifer Aniston Salad: Fresh, nutritious kale with tangy lemon dressing, avocado, quinoa, and feta. A healthy and satisfying dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (170g) quinoa, rinsed thoroughly
- 2 cups (480ml) water or vegetable broth
- 1 English cucumber (about 300g), diced into ¼-inch pieces
- 1 pint (300g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 (15oz/425g) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup (75g) red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup (65g) pistachios, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup (50g) feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Quinoa Rinse 1 cup of quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine mesh strainer. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water or vegetable broth and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15-18 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and spread on a baking sheet to cool for 15-20 minutes.
- Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables While the quinoa cools, prepare your fresh ingredients. Dice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely dice the red onion. Drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly, then pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Roughly chop the pistachios and set aside. The uniform, small dice of vegetables ensures you get a perfect bite of the Jennifer Aniston Salad every time.
- Step 3: Make the Dressing In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and minced garlic until emulsified. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley, mint, and dried oregano. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. The dressing should be vibrant and zesty—this brightness is the signature of Aniston’s favorite lunch.
- Step 4: Assemble the Salad In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa and the dressing, tossing gently to coat each grain. Add the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and red onion. Fold these ingredients together carefully to maintain their integrity. The colorful mixture creates the beautiful base of your Jennifer Aniston Salad.
- Step 5: Add Finishing Touches Just before serving, fold in the chopped pistachios and crumbled feta cheese. Give the salad a final gentle toss to distribute everything evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors. For presentation, garnish with additional fresh herbs and a few whole pistachios on top.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380 kcal per serving
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 490mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 10mg