I created a gluten-free version of the viral Jennifer Aniston salad recipe, and it's so good I can't stop making it! This flavorful vegan salad is made with quinoa, cucumber, red onion, pistachios, chickpeas, vegan feta and a super simple lemon dressing. It's the Ross and Rachel of salads...the perfect match!
Have you heard the hype surrounding the Jennifer Aniston "perfect salad" recipe? As soon as I read the ingredients from this PopSugar article I was hooked. This famous salad is loaded with nutrients, offers a delicious combo of flavors and is easily adaptable to make it your own!
The main swap I made was to use quinoa instead of bulgur wheat to make the salad completely gluten-free. I also created a quick and easy lemon garlic dressing and swapped regular feta for vegan feta.
I've made this easy salad recipe so many times since I first tried it, and that first bite still blows my mind every single time. Plus, I get to pretend I'm sitting down to catch up with my BFF Jen after a yoga class when I make it! It's the little things, right? 😉
Why You'll Love this Jennifer Aniston Salad
- Light and refreshing with a nice crunch
- So much flavor
- Nutritious and satisfying
- Easy for meal prep
- Portable - enjoy chilled or at room temperature
- Vegan and gluten-free
Ingredients
At first glance, none of these ingredients on their own stand out as being unique, but combining them all into one bowl makes for some serious salad magic! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.
- Quinoa - This is where my version is a bit different from the original recipe. Jen's salad is made with bulgur wheat, which I omitted since I don't eat gluten. Instead, I used nutrient-rich quinoa!
- English cucumber - Crisp cucumber adds a light and refreshing crunch.
- Herbs - Fresh parsley (I like Italian flat leaf) and fresh mint provide bright, natural flavor that makes every bite pop.
- Chickpeas - Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas are one of my favorite pantry staples. They make this salad super satisfying and are full of plant-based protein.
- Pistachios - I love a salty, nutty crunch in any good salad, so it's no surprise that this one has pistachios. I also love the color that they add!
- Red onion - Red onion is one of my favorite ways to add bright flavor and complements every other taste in this dish.
- Vegan feta - I love the texture of creamy feta cheese in salads. Two brands I enjoy are VioLife and Trader Joe's. I actually didn't have feta on hand a few different times when making this salad and it still turned out amazing, though!
Homemade Lemon Garlic Salad Dressing
I love a homemade salad dressing! A squeeze of fresh lemon juice, finely minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil and pure maple syrup add the perfect, tangy topping to this bowl of veggies and plant-based protein.
You can use any salad dressing you like, but I really love this simple and flavorful homemade one to top this delicious salad!
Instructions
1. Cook the quinoa. Use either the stovetop or Instant Pot method. One cup of uncooked quinoa makes about 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Allow the quinoa to cool to room temperature before assembling the salad.
2. Assemble the salad. Place the quinoa in a large bowl. Add the diced cucumber, finely diced parsley and mint, chickpeas, pistachios, diced red onion and crumbled vegan feta cheese.
3. Prepare the dressing. Whisk together the lemon garlic dressing ingredients or place them in a small jar and shake well to combine.
4. Toss the salad with dressing. Pour the dressing overtop the salad and toss everything well so that all ingredients and the dressing are distributed evenly.
5. Serve! Enjoy chilled or at room temperature. This recipe makes about 4 large portions.
Recipe Modifications
Feel free to customize this recipe based on what you have on hand and are currently craving! Other ingredients to consider adding are:
- Sunflower seeds or pumpkins seeds
- Fresh veggies such as green onion or red, orange or yellow bell pepper
- Black beans
- Dried cranberries
- Fresh dill or other fresh herbs
Storage
Store any leftover salad in an airtight container and enjoy within 4 days. After that look for normal signs of spoilage.
This is a great salad to store in a Mason jar if you're taking it on the go or meal prepping. Just wait to add the dressing until you're ready to eat!
Health Benefits of Chickpeas
Chickpeas are one of my cannot-live-without pantry staples, both for their taste as well as nutritional value. I probably eat a can every single day...which might sound like an exaggeration, but it's true!
Plant-based protein is so important for vegans. Chickpeas are also an excellent source of folic acid, they do not contain any cholesterol, and they even offer complex carbs. They also have fiber to keep you full longer and aid in digestion!
As a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES, via NCHEC), I'm passionate about knowing why we're fueling ourselves with certain foods. Chickpeas are one of those ingredients that pass the test with flying colors--they're doing amazing things in our bodies!
Health Benefits of Quinoa
Another one of my pantry staples that do it all is quinoa! It is so easy to make in addition to being an incredible and affordable way to create a satisfying meal. Quinoa is light, absorbs flavor wonderfully and adds texture to salads.
Quinoa also offers amazing health benefits. It is loaded with fiber (one serving has over five grams) and is considered a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids. This makes it a great source of plant-based protein for vegans - it actually has more protein than any other grain!
In addition to protein, quinoa is also a good source of folate, magnesium, iron and phosphorous.
This version of the social media viral recipe is both vegan and gluten-free. It's a really delicious lunchtime salad, but it's hearty enough to enjoy for dinner, too!
I hope you'll tag me on Instagram if you make it, and please leave a review below so I can hear how you liked it!
More Vegan Quinoa Salad Recipes
@eatingbyelaine The famous Jennifer Aniston salad but make it vegan and gluten-free #jenniferaniston #viralsalad #quinoasalad #crunchysalad ♬ original sound - eatingbyelaine
Jennifer Aniston "Perfect Salad" Recipe (Gluten-Free)
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Total Time: 15 minutes -
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Yield: 4 -
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Diet: Vegan
Total Time:
Yield:
Diet:
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
I created a gluten-free version of the viral Jennifer Aniston salad recipe, and it's so good I can't stop making it! This flavorful vegan salad is made with quinoa, cucumber, red onion, pistachios, chickpeas, vegan feta and a super simple lemon dressing. It's the Ross and Rachel of salads...the perfect match!
Ingredients
The Salad
- 3 cups cooked quinoa (from 1 cup of uncooked quinoa) [Stovetop Method or Instant Pot Method]
- 1 English cucumber, diced (~ 2 cups when finely diced)
- ½ cup fresh parsley leaves, stems removed, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh mint, stems removed, finely diced
- 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (or 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup roasted and salted pistachios (shelled), roughly chopped
- ½ large red onion, finely diced (½ cup diced)
- ½ cup vegan feta cheese, crumbled (I like VioLife or Trader Joe's brand best)
The Lemon Garlic Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large juicy lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 large garlic clove, pressed through a garlic press
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa (if not prepared in advance). Use either the stovetop or Instant Pot method. One cup of uncooked quinoa makes about 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Allow the quinoa to cool to room temperature before assembling the salad.
- Assemble the salad. Place the quinoa in a large bowl. Add the diced cucumber, finely diced parsley and mint, chickpeas, pistachios, diced red onion and crumbled vegan feta cheese.
- Prepare the dressing. Whisk together the lemon garlic dressing ingredients or place them in a small jar and shake well to combine.
- Toss the salad with dressing. Pour the dressing overtop the salad and toss everything well so that all ingredients and the dressing are distributed evenly.
- Serve! Enjoy chilled or at room temperature. This recipe makes about 4 large portions.
Notes
Store any leftover salad in an airtight container and enjoy within 4 days. After that look for normal signs of spoilage.
This is a great salad to store in a Mason jar if you're taking it on the go or meal prepping. Just wait to add the dressing until you're ready to eat!
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Prep Time: 15![]()
Category: Lunch
Category:The post Jennifer Aniston "Perfect Salad" Recipe (Gluten-Free) appeared first on Eating by Elaine.