Jennifer Aniston Salad

Try this famous Jennifer Aniston Salad and get what all the hype is about. This flavorful dish is a viral sensation and with one bite, you'll be able to see why.

The story goes that Jennifer Aniston, as well as Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox, ate this salad together every single day of filming the show Friends for 10 years! She shared the original recipe on social media, and instantly it became a viral recipe. That tells you how delicious this salad is. And I have to agree. This dish is satisfying and so tasty, with lots of refreshing and scrumptious flavors.

With nuts, grains, beans, and veggies, all topped with a lemony dressing and tossed with fresh herbs, it's no wonder that this salad is on everyone's minds. It's easy to make, perfect for meal prep, and goes well with other dishes as a side salad or as the main course. You can even tweak it to accommodate those with food allergies, or to fit individual preferences. This recipe is well worth trying. Let's take a look at the ingredients you'll need to make this amazing Jennifer Aniston Salad.

Video Tutorial

Ingredient List

• Bulgur Wheat. Bulgur is parboiled cracked wheat. I often see people confuse it with couscous, but they’re not the same (couscous is tiny pasta). Medium-grain bulgur is best for this salad, so that's what I recommend using. Quinoa can be used instead of bulgur if desired.
• Feta Cheese. Use high-quality feta for the best results.
• Cucumbers. I used Persian cucumbers. If you want to use English cucumbers, I recommend de-seeding them.
• Pistachios. These add a nice flavor and crunch to the salad, so don't skip these.
• Onion. Red onion or another kind. Skip the onion, if you are not a fan.
• Chickpeas. Sometimes called garbanzo beans. Cook them yourself, or use canned ones.
• Mint. Adds a very special taste and aroma. Fresh mint is best here. 
• Parsley. Fresh parsley adds a nice flavor.
• Dressing. Extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.

How to make Jennifer Aniston Salad

1. Cook the bulgur according to the package instructions. (Fine bulgur needs to be steeped and coarse needs to be cooked for 10 minutes). Allow the bulgur to cool and set aside.

2. To a large bowl, add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Whisk well.

3. To the same bowl, add the cooled bulgur, cucumbers, chickpeas, feta, chopped onion, pistachios, parsley, and mint. Mix everything well and serve.

Tips for the best Jennifer Aniston Salad

• Allow the bulgur to cool. Cool the bulgur to room temperature or speed it up by placing it in the fridge. If it's too warm, it will wilt the herbs and melt the feta.
• Use fresh ingredients. The fresh lemon juice really adds the best citrusy flavor, much better than concentrate. And the mint and parsley are so aromatic when fresh.
• Choose a good quality feta cheese. Feta cheese that comes in a block soaked in brine that you crumble yourself usually offers the best flavor. Goat cheese would be my second choice. There is a vegan feta out these, so vegans can enjoy this delicious salad, too. 
• Deseed the cucumbers. If you're using a variety of cucumber that has seeds (such as large English cucumber), remove them. These can leave a bitter taste that won't go well with your salad. Mini cucumbers make another great option.

Variations to this Recipe

• Substitute the bulgur. Instead of bulgur, use quinoa in its place to make this recipe gluten-free. Brown rice is another great substitution.
• Add different nuts or seeds. Besides pistachios, you can add chopped roasted hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or roasted chopped almonds. These add a nice crunch and flavor.
• Add other vegetables. You can add other fresh veggies, such as red peppers, tomatoes, carrots, celery, mushrooms, or broccoli. These crunchy veggies are colorful and tasty and are welcome in the salad.
• Use another dressing. While it's made with lemon vinaigrette, you can try it with other dressings, like this Greek Salad Dressing, No-Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing, or Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.
• Add different herbs. Besides mint and parsley, you can add some green onion, cilantro, or fresh dill. 
• Add protein. Make this even more satisfying by adding grilled chicken breast, shrimp, crumbled turkey bacon, or steak. I like to place sliced grilled chicken breasts right on top.

How to Store

Store this Jennifer Aniston Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It will last longer if the dressing is stored separately from the salad.

What to Serve this with

• Proteins. Serve this salad alongside Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast, Salmon in Creamy Sauce, Ahi Tuna Steak, or Chicken Rice Casserole.
• Pasta. Pair it with your favorite pasta, like this Radiatore Pasta in Creamy Sauce, Mushroom Spinach Pasta, Easy Angel Hair Pasta, or Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic.
• Soup. Enjoy this delicious salad with a bowl of Hearty Mushroom Soup, Lentil and Kale Soup, Turkey Cabbage Soup, Creamy Vegetable Soup, or Chickpea Noodle Soup.

You are going to love this Jennifer Aniston Salad. It is flavorful, easy, and tastes great with other dishes or just on its own. This famous salad can be easily modified to your personal preferences and enjoyed year-round! 

Please, let me know if you try this healthy salad. Leave a comment or a star rating, so I know what you think! Nutritional info is available in the recipe card below!

More tasty salad recipes:

• German Cucumber Salad
• Refreshing Chickpea Salad
• Easy Bulgur Salad
• Healthy Tuna Salad