Famous Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe

Is the Jennifer Aniston Salad worth the hype? My answer is YES! Try it out and see if you agree.

I’m sure you must’ve already come across Jennifer Anniston’s perfect salad recipe by now, right? It’s gone viral on TikTok and Instagram multiple times and I knew I had to try it. I can report that it’s worth the hype!

Although some believe she used to have it every single day on the sets of Friends, it’s not true. The salad she had everyday for 10 years on the set of her TV show was a version of the Cobb Salad. This one she shared on a social media takeover and her endorsement made the salad a viral sensation.

For those of you who missed it and don’t want to lose this delicious recipe, I have my version right here!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Great for Meal Prep: Here’s a good reason to make a bigger batch to enjoy on busy days – the salad stays perfectly fresh in the fridge!

Flavors and Textures: This salad combines a perfect combination of flavorful ingredients and differing textures to make it interesting. Everything works together so well!

Simple Ingredients: Only because this is a celebrity salad recipe doesn’t mean you have to hunt down obscure ingredients. You’ll find everything you need at your local grocery store.

Quick and Healthy Salad: This salad is perfect for those busy days when you want to eat something healthy but don’t have much time to prepare it. It’s quick, easy, and packed with nutritious ingredients.

Easy to Make Your Own: Tweak the original version by adding your favorite things without worrying about messing up the entire recipe.

Ingredients for the Famous Jennifer Anniston Salad

Uncooked Bulgur Wheat: Jen makes her favorite salad with bulgur wheat. It’s a whole grain made with cracked wheat – amazing nutrient profile. It has loads of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. There are other alternatives as well, like the light and fluffy quinoa. Red quinoa has a more potent nutty flavor compared to white quinoa – but also takes longer to cook. So, choose according to your preference.

Vegetable Broth: If you want to keep things simple, use water.

English Cucumber: The original recipe uses diced English cucumber, so I will stick with that. But if you have Persian cucumbers (aka mini cucumbers) they’ll work, too.

A Can of Chickpeas: Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are an excellent source of plant-based protein. You can boil your own at home but for a quicker alternative, I recommend getting a can from a grocery store. Pop open the can, drain, and rinse the chickpeas, and you’re good to go.

Red Onion: One small diced onion is enough. We’re adding it for a hint of spiciness.

Fresh Parsley: Fresh herbs add a refreshing green touch to your salad bowl. Make sure you chop it finely. You can also try some fresh dill and cilantro.

Fresh Mint Leaves: Chop it finely before adding it to the salad. Fresh mint will work with parsley to give this salad an unmistakably fresh flavor.

Shelled Pistachios: Pistachios are the crunchy, nutty stars in the recipe. Even better? They’ll boost the healthy fat content of your salad. You can also roast them for some extra nice crunch.

Crumbled Feta Cheese: Here for a salty protein addition! Plus, creamy feta improves the texture of the salad. You can also use vegan feta to keep everything 100% plant-based.

The Basics: The best part about this homemade dressing is that it doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. Just extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.

The recipe card has all the details about the salad ingredients and step-by-step instructions on how to make the salad. Make sure you check it out.

How to Make the Famous Jennifer Aniston Salad

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the bulger wheat and broth or water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
2. Add the cucumber, chickpeas, onion, parsley, mint leaves, pistachios, and feta cheese to the large bowl with the bulgur wheat. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
3. Add the lemon juice and olive oil and toss again so everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
4.  You may serve immediately or allow to chill in the refrigerator for several hours before

Tips and Tricks

• The pungent oniony flavor can be too overpowering for some. If you’re not a fan, dice your onion and soak the little cubes in water for a while. It’ll make it better.
• You can easily make a bigger batch of this salad. Just don’t add the dressing until you’re ready to serve. It’ll stay fresher this way.
• I also add pistachios at the end. I don’t like it when they get soft – it kills the purpose.

Variations and Substitutes

I loved the Jennifer Aniston salad exactly as this recipe is written, but there’s always room to make adjustments according to your tastes and preferences.

Try Other Nuts: Almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds all deliver. You can add a little of each if that’s what you like. There’s no rule here.

Choose Another Base: If you want to try something other than quinoa and bulgur wheat, try brown rice or farrow. Follow the package directions to prepare them. If you love farro, you should also try this Vegetable Grain Bowl.

Add More Fresh Veggies: I once added yellow bell pepper to this salad, and it was great. I think you can try almost any raw vegetable in it. Broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, green onion – anything!

Make It Creamy: If you’re not a fan of the simple lemon dressing for your salad, add some Greek yogurt or tahini for creaminess. You can also use avocado instead!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftover Jennifer Aniston’s Salad?

It’s as simple as transferring everything to an airtight container and sliding it into the fridge. Everything will stay fresh and crispy for up to two days.

Can I Add Another Protein to This Viral Recipe?

Of course! Turkey bacon, boiled and shredded chicken breast and even boiled egg whites will work here. Tweak the recipe as you like.

What Can I Serve with This Salad?

This salad is a great light lunch option on its own, but you can also pair it with grilled chicken or fish for a more filling meal. It also goes well as a side dish for any Mediterranean-inspired main course. It would make a great side dish with this salmon cakes recipe or this Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken recipe! Both are easy and delicious!

If you make the Jennifer Aniston Salad, or any Happy Healthy Mama recipe, I would LOVE to see it! Please take a pic and share it on Instagram or the Happy Healthy Mama Facebook page and tag me @happyhealthymama ?

Also, if you try it, would you mind rating the recipe with stars when you leave a comment? It’s VERY helpful for me and other readers if the recipes have ratings and reviews. I appreciate you!

 

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