Description
A refreshing and healthy quinoa salad inspired by Jennifer Aniston’s diet, packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, chickpeas, pistachios, and a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa (or 2 cups cooked quinoa)
- 2 cups water (for cooking quinoa)
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional, or dairy-free feta)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, prepare the quinoa. Rinse the uncooked quinoa thoroughly under cold water. Combine quinoa and 2 cups of water in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Once cooked, fluff with a fork and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
- While the quinoa cools, prepare your vegetables and herbs. Dice the English cucumber, chop the fresh parsley and mint, and finely dice the red onion.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled cooked quinoa, diced cucumber, chopped parsley, chopped mint, diced red onion, rinsed chickpeas, and chopped pistachios.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Toss gently until all components are evenly coated.
- Finally, stir in the crumbled feta cheese, if using. For best flavor, you can serve immediately or allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving. This salad stores well in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Feta cheese is optional; use dairy-free feta for a vegan version.
- For the best flavor, allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.
- This salad stores well in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Rinse quinoa thoroughly to remove any bitterness.