Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad Recipe
A fresh and vibrant chickpea salad inspired by Jennifer Aniston, featuring protein-rich quinoa, crunchy pistachios, fresh herbs, and tangy lemon dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- ⅓ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup (180g) dry quinoa
- 2 cups (480mL) water
- 1 (15 ounce) can (425g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced and quartered
- ½ cup parsley, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup mint, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup (62g) roasted salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup (56g) crumbled feta cheese
Dressing
- ¼ cup (60mL) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lemons, juiced
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Onion: Add the finely chopped red onion to a small bowl of cold water and let it soak. This step reduces the sharp bite of the onion. If you prefer a stronger onion flavor, you can skip soaking.
- Rinse and Cook Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove any bitterness, then drain. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Quinoa: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 15 minutes until the quinoa is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Mix Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
- Assemble Salad: Transfer the cooked quinoa to a large mixing bowl. Drain the soaked onions and add them along with the chickpeas, cucumber, parsley, mint, chopped pistachios, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Add Dressing and Combine: Drizzle the lemon-olive oil dressing evenly over the salad ingredients, then gently stir to combine all flavors thoroughly.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for best freshness or refrigerate until ready to serve. The salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days but does not freeze well.
Notes
- Salting the quinoa cooking water with about ¼ teaspoon of salt is optional but enhances flavor.
- Soaking the onion reduces its sharpness; skip if you prefer a stronger onion taste.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- This salad does not freeze well due to fresh ingredients and cheese.
Keywords: Jennifer Aniston chickpea salad, quinoa salad, healthy chickpea recipe, Mediterranean chickpea salad, easy vegetarian salad
Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/jennifer-aniston-chickpea-salad-recipe/
