Description
Jennifer Aniston’s salad combines fresh ingredients for a light, nutritious meal. Mediterranean-inspired flavors create a delightful dish packed with protein and crisp vegetables. You’ll enjoy this refreshing lunch that feels both healthy and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (425 g / 15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup (237 ml) cooked quinoa (or bulgur)
- ½ cup (118 ml) feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup (59 ml) pistachios, chopped
- ¼ cup (59 ml) fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup (59 ml) fresh mint, chopped
- ¼ cup (59 ml) red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cucumber, diced
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) black pepper
Instructions
- Grain Preparation: Cook quinoa or soak bulgur until tender, then cool completely in a spacious mixing bowl to prevent ingredient compression.
- Base Construction: Integrate chickpeas, diced cucumber, and finely minced red onion, creating a robust and textural foundation with complementary flavors and crunch.
- Herbal Infusion: Incorporate roughly chopped parsley and mint, distributing their vibrant green essence throughout the salad and enhancing its aromatic profile.
- Textural Enrichment: Sprinkle crushed pistachios and crumble feta cheese, introducing nutty undertones and creamy punctuations that elevate the overall sensory experience.
- Dressing Dynamics: Whisk olive oil and lemon juice into a bright vinaigrette, seasoning with salt and black pepper, then gently cascade over the assembled ingredients to ensure harmonious coating.
- Flavor Maturation: Refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and intensify their collective taste, then serve chilled with optional herb or nut garnishes.
Notes
- Optimize Grain Cooking: Select quinoa or bulgur carefully, ensuring perfect texture by following package instructions precisely or using proper soaking techniques to avoid mushiness.
- Enhance Flavor Infusion: Let salad rest in refrigerator for minimum 30 minutes, allowing herbs, dressing, and ingredients to meld together and develop deep, complex taste profiles.
- Customize Protein Options: Swap chickpeas with grilled chicken, tofu, or edamame for varied dietary preferences while maintaining the salad’s nutritional integrity and satisfying texture.
- Master Ingredient Preparation: Dice vegetables uniformly, mince herbs finely, and crumble cheese consistently to ensure balanced bite and even distribution of flavors throughout the salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg