Description
Fresh Mediterranean flavors dance in Jennifer Aniston’s salad, a crisp ensemble of quinoa, herbs, and feta that promises clean eating with celebrity flair. Light and satisfying, this protein-packed dish delivers a refreshing lunch you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup cooked quinoa (or bulgur)
- ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
- ½ cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Quinoa Preparation: Cook the quinoa according to package guidelines until tender, then allow to cool completely, ensuring fluffy and separated grains for optimal salad texture.
- Ingredient Integration: In a spacious mixing vessel, harmoniously combine the cooled quinoa with crisp chickpeas, freshly diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, vibrant parsley, fragrant mint leaves, crunchy pistachios, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Dressing Creation: Craft a zesty vinaigrette by whisking premium olive oil with freshly squeezed lemon juice, seasoning delicately with salt and freshly ground black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
- Final Assembly: Gently cascade the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients, using a light folding technique to ensure even distribution without crushing delicate components; serve immediately for peak freshness or refrigerate for up to 72 hours to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
Notes
- Wash quinoa under cold water to remove bitter saponin coating, ensuring a cleaner, more pleasant taste.
- Let quinoa or bulgur cool completely before mixing to prevent soggy salad texture and maintain ingredient crispness.
- Chop parsley and mint finely, adjusting quantities to prevent overpowering the delicate salad flavors.
- Swap feta for vegan alternatives like tofu or nutritional yeast for dairy-free and plant-based diet variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg