The Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad, also known as the “Jennifer Aniston Salad,” is a refreshing and zesty summer salad that went viral on TikTok. Although it is not the salad that Jennifer Aniston ate on the set of Friends, it is still worth trying as it is packed with vegan protein and fresh ingredients. This veganized version of the recipe is perfect for a healthy lunch or as a side dish at a BBQ or backyard event.
This quinoa and Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad is also great for meal prep, and stores in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you are making this salad ahead, add the pistachios and vegan feta when you are ready to serve. This will preserve the crunch of the pistachio, and ensure the vegan feta chunks don’t disappear into the salad.
What are the ingredients in the Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad?
This Jennifer Aniston Chickpea vegan summer salad features quinoa as the base, which can be substituted for bulgar. It’s then paired with the crunch of pistachios, though you can easily swap them out for other nuts such as slivered almonds or sunflower seeds for those with a tree-nut allergy.
Quinoa
The original recipe calls for bulgar, but I used quinoa. Either one works perfectly in this vegan summer salad.
Pistachios
The pistachios can easily be substituted for another nut. Slivered or roasted almonds would complement this salad beautifully. Sunflower seeds can be used if you have a tree-nut allergy.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are the main ingredient in this salad and provide a great source of vegan protein. They can be used straight from the can or they can be cooked and cooled before adding to the salad.
Lemons
Fresh lemons are best. Lemon is the main ingredient that’s dressing this salad, so use fresh if possible.
Red onion
Red onion is the perfect addition to this salad. If you don’t have it, use 1 bunch of green onions or scallions instead. Do not use white onion as it will be much too strong
Olive oil
Sunflower oil or avocado oil would make a great substitute in place of extra virgin olive oil. Avocado – If you want some extra creaminess in this summer salad, try adding 1 or 2 diced-up avocados. I’ve tried it and it’s fantastic!
How to prepare the quinoa for the Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad
To ensure a perfect balance of flavors in this Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad vegan summer salad, use a ratio of 1 and ¼ cups of dried quinoa to 2 cups of water when cooking. Allow the cooked quinoa to cool completely before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. This will prevent any raw ingredients from being partially cooked. Serve the salad chilled for the best taste and texture, and enjoy it as a vegan meal or side dish at any summer gathering.
Jennifer Aniston’s Chickpea Salad – Vegan and Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa or bulgar wheat, uncooked
- water to cook the quinoa (follow package instructions)
- 1 15oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 cucumber chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 large red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup mint, chopped
- 1/2 cup pistachios, chopped
- 2 lemons juiced (about 5 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup crumbled vegan feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook 1 cup of quinoa or bulgar according to package instructions. If you want a little extra flavour, use half veggie broth and half water.
- Fluff quinoa with a fork, and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- In a medium serving bowl, mix together the quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, parsley, mint, pistachios, onion, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and crumbled feta.
- If this dish is being made ahead of time, wait to add the pistachios and feta until it's ready to serve.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Video
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