With a delicious blend of quinoa, cucumbers, fresh herbs, and chickpeas tossed in a lemony dressing and accented with crunchy pistachios, this filling salad might just become your new best friend.
The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I consistently cite and link to expert sources, but nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice.
Alpha-gal sensitivities vary by person. You should understand your dietary restrictions, making any adjustments needed, and directing any questions to your physician.
Hollywood is full of crazy rumors, from Halle Berry’s toes to Mr. Rogers’s hidden tattoos. And even when they’ve been debunked – Halle has five toes on each foot, and Mr. Rogers did not wear his signature sweater to cover a sleeve of tats – enough whispers are blowing on the ashes of these rumors to keep them smoldering.
And so is the case with the delicious but peppered with untruths Jennifer Aniston salad. The quinoa salad recipe that nearly always starts with the Friends star’s name is not the one she ate daily for a decade on the Gen X-defining television series set. Instead, the actress essentially embellished a Cobb-like salad from the commissary with chickpeas.
I don’t know about you, but I’d consider doing a long list of unconventional things if there was even a 5% chance that I’d age as well as fellow Gen Xer Jennifer Aniston. But eating that sad-looking iceberg lettuce salad roughly 3,650 times in this lifetime is not one of them. On the other hand, she is aging much better than I am, so there may be some benefit to eating all that iceberg lettuce.
Although this delicious quinoa salad recipe is nothing like the one that “Rachel Green” ate between takes on the couch at Central Perk, it is packed with protein, alpha-gal friendly, and absolutely delicious. It just might be your new best friend! (Queue “I’ll Be There for You” – clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)
In This Article
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
These are the key ingredients you need to make the famous salad credited to Jennifer Aniston, albeit incorrectly.
Quinoa
The star ingredient of the legendary Jennifer Aniston quinoa salad is not your average grain. It’s a powerhouse of plant-based protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. Are you new to this superfood? Don’t worry, you can easily make the perfect batch of quinoa:
- in a rice cooker,
- on the stovetop,
- in a Crockpot or slow cooker, and
- in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker
Regardless of the tool you use, the general rule for fluffy quinoa is a 2:1 liquid-to-grain ratio. So for every cup of quinoa, use two cups of water, chicken broth, or your favorite milk.
Sage Advice: Not a fan of quinoa’s chewy texture and nutty flavor? You can easily substitute bulgur wheat, rice, cous cous, barley, or lentils.
Related Article: 30 Must-Try Quinoa Salad Recipes
Cucumber
Just like celebrities, cucumbers come in all shapes and sizes. I prefer English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers when making this salad because both have a delicate skin and essentially no seeds. All you need to do is wash and dice it, and it’s ready to hit its mark in this salad.
You can certainly use other types of cucumbers in this salad, but if you use Burpless or another traditional American variety, you may want to peel the cucumber as well as slice it in half lengthwise and use a spoon to gently scoop out those annoying seeds before cutting it up for the salad.
Red Onion
If you’re not a big fan of onions, especially raw onions, you may be tempted to overlook this ingredient like Courteney Cox at the Emmy Awards. But trust me, including the red onion in this recipe is like inviting Phoebe to a party – it’s more fun with her presence.
Not only do red onions add a delightful crunch and pop of color to the salad, but they also offer surprising health benefits. Red onions are an excellent source of dietary flavonoids like quercetin. This antioxidant helps reduce inflammation, protect against heart disease, and reduce your risk of several types of cancer.
Fresh Herbs
When you first read this recipe, you may think it contains too much parsley and mint. With one full cup of fresh herbs, it’s easy to understand why it feels like a lot. And, the first time I made the salad, I cut the amount in half. Don’t make the same mistake. You need the full amount of the slightly peppery taste of fresh parsley and the cool mint flavor to bring all the ingredients together – just like Jennifer’s chemistry with her co-stars.
Chickpeas
Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are one of the ingredients linking this recipe to the real salad Jennifer Aniston ate on the Friends set. And, these pea-sized legumes deserve an Emmy nomination for packing additional protein, fiber, and nutrients into this delicious quinoa salad. Using canned chickpeas, you don’t have to go through the hassle of cooking them from scratch. Just open a can, drain and rinse them, and they’re ready for their turn in the spotlight.
Pistachios
This plant-based complete protein adds a delightful crunch and a burst of nutty flavor to the quinoa salad. I can’t imagine this salad without pistachio kernels any more than Friends without Phoebe or Chandler.
Feta Cheese
Creamy, salty crumbed feta is the final key ingredient in this delicious salad. If you’re an alpha gal who tolerates dairy, just be sure to pick a vegetarian feta to avoid the risk of reaction from animal enzymes used in some brands. To make this salad vegan, substitute a dairy-free feta cheese alternative like Violife’s Just Like Feta.
How to Make Jennifer Aniston Quinoa Salad
Making Jennifer Aniston quinoa salad is as easy as pie. Or should I say quinoa? Because that’s about the only cooking that’s involved to make this fast and easy meal.
Here’s what you do:
- In a medium bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, diced vegetables, fresh herbs, chickpeas, and nuts.
- Mix a simple dressing using fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper then pour it over the salad ingredients.
- Add feta cheese crumbles and lightly toss the salad to mix in the flavors.
Can You Prepare Quinoa and Chickpea Salad in Advance?
Absolutely! This delicious quinoa salad can be made ahead of time and chill in your fridge until call time. My only suggestion is to omit the pistachios until you’re ready to serve. That will keep them as crunchy as possible.
What to Serve with Quinoa Salad
While this nutritious salad is a leading dish all on its own, if you want to demote it to a supporting role, it’s a great side dish for grilled chicken, baked chicken, shrimp kebabs, and many other alpha-gal friendly main dishes.
How to Store Leftover Quinoa Salad
If you have leftovers, this delicious quinoa salad will keep for several days. Simply transfer it to an airtight container and pop it in the refrigerator. The salad is best enjoyed within a few days. I’ve noticed that after that, while still flavorful, the pistachios lose their crunch and get a little soggy.
Jennifer Aniston Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, chopped
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup roasted and salted pistachios, unshelled
- 6 tablespoons lemon juice about two lemons
- ¼ cup olive oil
- sea salt
- ground black pepper
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese use vegan feta cheese, if desired
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cucumber, red onion, parsley, mint, chickpeas, and pistachios.
- Pour the lemon juice and olive oil into a mason jar and tightly secure the lid. Shake vigorously to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the dressing over the quinoa salad and add the feta cheese crumbles. Gently toss to incorporate the dressing and cheese into the salad.
- Can be served immediately or kept in the fridge until mealtime.
This was so fun! I have been meaning to try this famous salad – as a huge Friends fan from back in the day it is my duty! haha I loved your version – the mint was my fave. Perfect for a healthy and satisfying lunch. Clap-clap-clap! 😉
I’m not going to lie, I love this salad so much I’ll make a batch and eat it for lunch four days in a row, so I can see how that urban legend got started!
The recipe came together quickly for an easy and delicious lunch. It was very filling too.
I’ve started having more quinoa recently. But sometimes I run out of ideas on what to make. I’m glad I tried this recipe. It’s so good and definitely a keeper.
Thanks for the make-ahead tip about not adding the nuts until I’m ready to serve. The crunchy texture is what I love most about nuts, so having them turn soggy on me is not what I want. Salad saved!
I would never have though to include pistachios with chickpeas and couscous, but it was fabulous. Perfect light summer meal.
It’s one of our favorite meals!
This quinoa salad was so satisfying and filling. I loved adding cucumbers and chickpeas. The lemon really tasted good.
We are seriously addicted!
The taste and textures of this salad was simply amazing. It is so versatile that it is good both chilled or eaten right away. Yum!!
This was a delicious salad which we have now had 2 days in a row. I loved the crunch of the pistachios in the mix. It made all the difference!
Quinoa and I don’t get along so I make this salad with rice or millet and still love it. The crunchy texture is so great and I love the simple lemon dressing.
I’m so sorry that quinoa is a jerk to you, but I’m glad rice or millet work as substitutes for you.
This was my first time making this salad and I must say, I now know what all the fuss was about. It turned out great and I really loved the combination of flavors and textures!
We are pretty much addicted to it here!
This makes a delicious salad. And yes, I’m sure we will all age as well as Jennifer Aniston if we just eat it religiously!
The Fountain of Youth has been found, and it’s at the bottom of our quinoa salad bowls!
I am officially a quinoa bestie…this salad was delicious and combined such refreshing flavours from the mint to the feta cheese it was amazing. I had it with some grilled shrimps and it was fantastic thank you for the tips.
Who doesn’t want a quinoa bestie?!?
I LOVED this!!!
I made a big batch and took it for lunch each day last week.
I admit I had never heard of this ‘famous’ salad but I can see why everyone loves it!
The mint was such a nice touch 🙂
So glad you loved it! The mint really does add that special touch, doesn’t it? Thanks for making it a part of your lunch routine! 🌿