Jennifer Aniston Salad (2024)

Updated: by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

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This vegan-friendly Jennifer Aniston Salad is the answer to all of your meal prep woes. Made with bulgur wheat, healthy vegetables, chickpeas, and a vibrant dressing, it’s a hearty meal that tastes great all week long!

Jennifer Aniston Salad (1)

When I first tried the viral TikTok sensation that is this Jennifer Aniston Salad, my tastebuds were underwhelmed. So, I played with the recipe and came up with this ultra-flavorful and vegan-friendly version! One bite and you’ll be packing it up for all of your weekday lunches.

Some sources claim the actress ate this salad every day for 10 years while she was working on the set of Friends, but those rumors have since been cleared up. Regardless, this loaded and healthy salad is still delicious and worthy of the spotlight!

It’s made with bulgur wheat, pistachios, crisp veggies, fresh herbs, tofu feta, and a vibrant salad dressing. The best part is it stays fresh all week long. Talk about the ultimate solution for meal prep!

You’re going to love this tabbouleh-like salad because it’s:

  • Fresh, light, and flavorful.
  • Loaded with plant based protein.
  • Perfect for meal prep and side dishes. It stays fresh all week long in the fridge!
Jump to:
  • Ingredients and substitutions
  • How to make a Jennifer Aniston salad
  • Tips for success
  • More salad topping options
  • Storing
  • Looking for more easy vegan salad recipes?
  • Jennifer Aniston Salad

Ingredients and substitutions

You’ll find all kinds of colorful vegetables, nuts, and herbs in a Jennifer Aniston salad recipe. Here’s what my version calls for:

  • Bulgur - Bulgur wheat is a hearty grain that’s delicious in anything, from salads to vegan burgers. It’s also packed with fiber and will keep you full for a long time. If you can’t find bulgur, make the salad with white quinoa, orzo, farro, or pearl couscous instead.
  • Cucumber - Peeled or unpeeled. It’s up to you!
  • Fresh mint and parsley - Fresh herbs are better than dried here.
  • Red onion - Soak the chopped red onion in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes to tone down the strong flavors.
  • Pistachios - Buttery pistachios are so luxurious here and add a crunch to each bite. Feel free to replace them with chopped smoked almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
  • Chickpeas - One of the main sources of vegan protein. Canned chickpeas will help you cut down on prep time but you’re more than welcome to cook dried chickpeas from scratch if you want.
  • Vegan feta - My easy vegan feta cheese is packed in Greek-style brine and adds salty, cheesy elements to this Mediterranean-inspired salad. Violife vegan feta is a wonderful storebought option!
  • Salad dressing - I gave the typical lemon and olive oil salad dressing a boost by adding pomegranate molasses and ground cumin. If you can’t find pomegranate molasses, replace it with balsamic glaze.
Jennifer Aniston Salad (2)

How to make a Jennifer Aniston salad

My vegan Jennifer Aniston salad is low maintenance and just as easy to put together as my Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Cook the bulgur: Pour boiling water over the bulgur wheat in a bowl, cover with a lid, and let it sit until the wheat has soaked up all of the water.
  2. Make the salad dressing: Whisk all of the salad dressing ingredients together in a bowl.
  3. Assemble the salad: Add the cooked and cooled bulgur to a large bowl. Stir in the rest of the salad ingredients and dressing, and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
  4. Serve or store: Serve the salad right away or store it in the fridge for later.
Jennifer Aniston Salad (3)
Jennifer Aniston Salad (4)

Tips for success

  • The best way to cook bulgur - The key to a really good bulgur salad is to soak the bulgur, not cook it. The soaking method always results in slightly chewy bulgur that isn’t mushy.
  • Save on prep time - Cook the bulgur 1 or 2 days in advance and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge until it’s time to assemble the salad.
  • Cold bulgur - Once the bulgur is cooked, pop it in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes to chill. Assembling the salad with freshly soaked and warm bulgur can lead to mushy vegetables and herbs.
  • Gluten free - Bulgur is a type of wheat, which means this salad is not naturally gluten free. Simply replace the bulgur with white quinoa if you’d like the salad to be gluten free.
  • Portion size - This recipe makes enough salad for 6 people (smaller portions).

More salad topping options

Play with the salad toppings as you like! There’s plenty of room for more, such as:

  • Green peas
  • Edamame
  • Bell peppers
  • Shredded vegan cheese
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Microgreens
  • Dried cranberries
  • Leftover seitan chicken
  • Beans
  • Dill
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Cilantro
  • Olives

Storing

The assembled salad can be stored for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Looking for more easy vegan salad recipes?

  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Curried Quinoa Salad
  • Mediterranean Orzo Salad
  • Best Vegan Macaroni Salad

Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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Jennifer Aniston Salad (5)

Jennifer Aniston Salad

★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Verna
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This vegan-friendly Jennifer Aniston Salad is the answer to all of your meal prep woes. Made with bulgur wheat, healthy vegetables, chickpeas, and a vibrant dressing, it’s a hearty meal that tastes great all week long!

Ingredients

Scale

For salad:

  • 1 cup uncooked bulgur wheat (see notes*)
  • 1 and ¼ cups boiling water

  • 1 long english cucumber, seeded and diced small (about 2 cups)

  • ½ cup chopped fresh mint

  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley, flat leaf

  • ⅓ cup red onion, diced small

  • ½ cup roasted and salted chopped pistachios

  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

  • ½ cup vegan feta, crumbled or chopped small (completely optional - see notes*)

For dressing:

  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (see notes*)

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • Pinch of cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook bulgur: Add bulgur wheat and a pinch of salt to a medium bowl (I use a cereal bowl). Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Pour 1 and ¼ cups of boiling water over the bulgur. Immediately cover tightly with saran wrap and cover with a dish towel. Let sit for 30 minutes until all water is absorbed. Uncover and set aside to cool, fluff with a fork. Drain any excess water if necessary.
  2. Make dressing: Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

  3. Combine: In a large salad bowl add the cooled bulgur, rest of salad ingredients and dressing. Toss well, season with salt and pepper if necessary.

  4. Enjoy: Serve cold or room temperature. Enjoy! Serves 6 as a side dish or 3 to 4 as a main course. Step by step photos, Tips, suggestions and more in above post and notes section*

Notes

  • Pistachios: could sub with smoked almonds
  • Bulgur wheat: I always buy Bob’s Red Mill Red Bulgur wheat. It is my go to..If you didn't want to use bulgur wheat you could sub couple cups of cooked quinoa, orzo, farro, pearl couscous, etc,..
  • Pomegranate molasses: I find it at my local Walmart (Canada) in the international section. I use Cortas brand. (keeps in the fridge for 1 year or more!!) Could sub balsamic glaze (reduced balsamic vinegar) - 2 to 3 tablespoons. But I highly recommend the recipe as written.
  • Vegan feta: could use my homemade. I find violife feta works well in this recipe, if using.
  • To Store: salad will keep in fridge in sealed container for up to 5 days (perfect for meal prep!)
  • Prep Time: 30 Minutes
  • Category: Salads, Mains
  • Method: mix in a bowl
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern, American, Canadian

Keywords: Jennifer Aniston salad, Jennifer Aniston bulgur salad

More Salads

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol A McCollum

    Sounds yummy. Serves 6. Per serving: cal. 223. sodium 211.9mg. fat 6.3g. carb.36mg.
    Is that including the 'optional' vegan feta, and dressing?

    Reply

  2. Rita

    Loved this recipe so tasty

    Reply

    • Verna

      Thank you so much Rita! 🙂

      Reply

  3. Margaret

    Looking forward to trying this! Looks delicious.

    Reply

    • Verna

      Thank you, enjoy!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Jennifer Aniston Salad (2024)

FAQs

What was in Jennifer Aniston's salad? ›

Jennifer Aniston's Quinoa Salad took the internet by storm for good reason! Made with quinoa, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, pistachios, fresh herbs, and a simple lemon vinaigrette

Is Jennifer Aniston salad healthy? ›

It's a delicious healthy salad with a base of fluffy quinoa, crisp cucumbers, fresh herbs and chickpeas, topped with creamy feta and pistachios for crunch. Every spoon makes you want more! It's fresh, simple, light yet satisfying, as it's packed with protein, fibre and nutrients. Oh and it's absolutely delicious!

What salad did Jennifer Aniston eat for 10 years? ›

The actual salad that she ate for 10 years while Friends was being filmed was actually a doctored up Cobb salad with shredded lettuce, chicken, egg whites, a small amount of garbanzo beans or chickpeas, bacon and a basic vinaigrette.

Can you lose weight with Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

Aniston's salad is low in calories, high in vitamins and nutrients, filling, and great for weight loss goals, according to Feder. "This salad recipe is very calorie friendly and is a complete meal," he says. "It contains healthy amounts of fats, and protein, and is low in carbohydrates.

What does Jennifer Aniston eat for lunch everyday? ›

Jennifer's meals always include a protein and vegetables.

When lunch comes around, she's hungry for something more substantial. "I'll usually have lunch around one or two, and it's usually some form of vegetables and a protein."

What does Jennifer Aniston eat for breakfast? ›

“When I wake up, I have warm lemon water and then I have a shake or avocado and eggs, which is one of my favorites,” Aniston says. “I sprinkle a little coconut oil on that. Sometimes I'll have a puffed millet cereal with a banana, or I'll do oatmeal with an egg white whipped in at the end.”

What does Jennifer Aniston eat in the morning? ›

Aniston starts her day with plenty of protein, sharing that her go to breakfast is avocado and eggs. and a shake, to which she'll add maca powder and cinnamon to. Another one of Aniston's go-to breakfasts? A smoothie, which always includes some sort of pure protein, bananas, berries, and a mix of greens.

What is the healthiest salad to eat everyday? ›

Best: Salad Loaded With Veggies

Add a mix of veggies to your salad to get more nutrition and flavor. Top those leafy greens with crunchy produce like carrots, cucumbers, or broccoli. Then add a punch of color from tomatoes, bell peppers, beets, or red onion.

Does Jennifer Aniston eat candy? ›

Generally, her diet consists mostly of nutritious whole foods like fruits, vegetables, a good balance of proteins, carbs, and heart-healthy fats. Although no foods are strictly restricted, she limits processed foods and added sugar from foods like candies, sweets, and desserts.

Is Jennifer Aniston salad low carb? ›

Jennifer Aniston's go-to lettuce-less salad boasts a nutritious blend of assorted vegetables, crunchy nuts, and hearty plant-based proteins to deliver a high-protein, low-carb meal that you can make in minutes.

What is Jennifer Aniston's favorite salad recipe? ›

Ingredients
  1. 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock.
  2. 1 cup dry quinoa.
  3. 15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed.
  4. 1 English cucumber, diced.
  5. 1/2 small red onion, minced.
  6. 1/2 packed cup fresh parsley, finely chopped.
  7. 1/2 loosely-packed cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped.
  8. 1/2 cup roasted salted pistachios, chopped.

How much weight did Rachel lose on Friends? ›

But did you that actress Jennifer Aniston who essayed the role of Rachel was forced to drop 30 pounds (14kg) in order to land her career launching role on Friends.

How many calories in a Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

Nutritional Information

Per serving: Calories 510, Fat 21 g (Saturated 5 g, Trans 0 g), Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 520 mg, Carbohydrate 65 g (Fibre 13 g, Sugars 9 g), Protein 19 g.

Should salad be eaten first or last? ›

Eating a salad after a meal can help digestion, while eating one before a meal may help discourage overeating. No matter when you choose to eat your salad it will still come with health benefits. The most important thing is that you have vegetables regularly.

What salad did Jennifer Aniston eat every day on The Set of Friends? ›

The salad Jen ate on the set of Friends was a Cobb Salad, while this salad is a riff on a tabbouleh. She shared it years ago on Instagram with the caption “My perfect salad”, and was nice enough to also list the ingredients that were inside her bowl. Celebrities — they're just like us!

What does Jennifer Aniston's diet consist of? ›

Aniston's diet generally focuses on nutrient-dense ingredients, including fruits, veggies, proteins, and heart-healthy fats. Here are some foods that she eats: Fruits: berries, apples, bananas, peaches, plums, kiwis. Vegetables: spinach, kale, broccoli, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms, sweet potatoes.

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