• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Eating by Elaine
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Cookbook
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Discounts
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Cookbook
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Discounts
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Cookbook
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Discounts
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Jennifer Aniston Viral "Perfect Salad" Recipe (made vegan + gluten-free)

    May 10, 2022 · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    VGGFSFEVEF

    I created a gluten-free version of the viral Jennifer Aniston Perfect Salad Recipe, and it's so good I can't stop making it! I think you'll be obsessed, too. This is a flavorful vegan salad with quinoa, cucumber, red onion, pistachios, chickpeas, vegan feta, and a super simple homemade dressing. It's the Ross and Rachel of salads...the perfect match!

    Jennifer Aniston Viral TikTok Perfect Salad Recipe
    Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe

    Have you heard the hype surrounding the Jennifer Aniston Perfect Salad recipe? As soon as I looked at the ingredients I knew I could make it my own! I originally saw a version of the recipe in this PopSugar article, which is filled with amazing nutrition and a delicious combo of flavors. The main swap I made was quinoa instead of bulgur wheat, which makes this a gluten-free Jennifer Aniston "Perfect Salad" Recipe! I've made this salad so many times since I first tried it, and that first bite 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? 😉

    Jennifer Aniston Healthy Salad
    Jennifer Aniston Salad Ingredients

    Jennifer Aniston Perfect Salad Ingredients

    At first glance none of these ingredients on their own stand out as being unique, but combining them all into one perfect bowl makes for some serious salad magic!

    • Quinoa - This is where my version is a bit different! Jen's salad is made with bulgur wheat, which I omitted since I don't eat gluten. Instead, I used nutrient-rich quinoa!
    • Cucumber - I think all of my favorite salads have some kind of cucumber!
    • Herbs - Fresh parsley (I like Italian flat leaf) and mint provide bright, natural flavor that makes every bite pop.
    • Chickpeas - Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas are one of my Pantry Staples That Do It All. They make this salad super satisfying.
    • Pistachios - You need a bit of salty nutty crunch in any perfect salad, so it's no surprise that this one has pistachios. I also love the color from these!
    • Red onion - One of my favorite ways to add bright flavor that complements every other taste in this dish. I used half of a red onion, finely diced.
    • Vegan feta - I LOVE VioLife feta and use it in so many salads! The Trader Joe's brand vegan feta is also great. I actually didn't have feta on hand a few different times that I made this salad and it still turned out amazing, though!
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    How to Make Jennifer Aniston's Salad
    Homemade Lemon Garlic Dressing
    Homemade Lemon Garlic Dressing
    Homemade Lemon Garlic Dressing

    Homemade Lemon Garlic Salad Dressing

    I love a homemade salad dressing! A squeeze of lemon, 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 the Jennifer Aniston Perfect Salad!

    Click Here for My Complete Roundup of Vegan Sauces, Dressings & Dips!
    The Best Homemade Lemon Dressing
    The Best Homemade Lemon Dressing
    The Best Homemade Lemon Dressing
    Jennifer Aniston Gluten-Free Salad
    Jennifer Aniston TikTok Viral Perfect Salad Recipe

    All About Chickpeas

    Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are one of my cannot-live-without pantry staples. 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, and 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!

    The Mighty Garbanzo Bean: Over 30 Vegan Chickpea Recipes!
    Jennifer Aniston's Perfect Salad Recipe Gluten-Free and Vegan
    Jennifer Aniston Viral Perfect Salad Recipe

    Vegan Salad with Quinoa

    Another one of my Pantry Staples That Do It All is quinoa! You can make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa in the Instant Pot in just a few minutes (or on the stovetop!), and it's an incredible and affordable way to make a satisfying meal. Quinoa is light, absorbs flavor wonderfully, adds texture to salads, and offers amazing health benefits.  It is loaded with fiber (one serving has over five grams) and is considered a complete protein with all eight essential amino acids.  This makes it a great source of plant-based protein for vegans (quinoa actually has more protein than any other grain!).  Quinoa is a good source of folate, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and many phytochemicals.  It also offers important minerals such as calcium, potassium, copper and zinc.

    Click Here: TONS of Vegan Quinoa Recipes!
    Vegan Quinoa Chickpea Salad Recipe
    Jennifer Aniston Salad in a Jar

    My version of the Jennifer Aniston Viral TikTok "Perfect Salad" is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. It's a really delicious lunchtime salad...but it's hearty enough to enjoy for dinner, too! 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! I hope you'll tag me on Instagram if you make it, and leave a review below so I can hear how you liked it.

    Filling Vegan Lunch Salad

    More Vegan Salad Recipes

    • Vegan Protein Kale Salad (nut-free + gluten-free)
    • Simple Side Salad Recipe
    • Maple Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Quinoa Salad
    • Spinach Quinoa Salad with Roasted Blueberry Vinaigrette
    • Vegan Apple Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts, Dates and Feta
    • Simple Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki: Tomato Cucumber Salad)
    • Crispy Quinoa and Avocado Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
    • Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Candied Pecans, Green Apples and Pomegranates
    • Plant Powered Fall Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Apples and Figs
    • Pear and Roasted Beet Arugula Salad with Hazelnuts
    • Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
    @eatingbyelaine The famous Jennifer Aniston salad but make it vegan and gluten-free #jenniferaniston #viralsalad #quinoasalad #crunchysalad ♬ original sound - eatingbyelaine
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Jennifer Aniston Viral Perfect Salad Recipe

    Jennifer Aniston's Viral "Perfect Salad" (made vegan + gluten-free)


    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Elaine Gordon
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    I created a gluten-free version of the viral Jennifer Aniston Perfect Salad Recipe, and it's so good I can't stop making it!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    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 garbanzo beans, 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)

    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

    1. Cook the quinoa with water using my stovetop or Instant Pot method.  1 cup of uncooked quinoa makes about 3 cups of cooked quinoa.  Allow the quinoa to cool to room temperature before assembling the salad.
    2. To assemble the salad, place room temperature cooked quinoa in a large mixing bowl.  Add the diced cucumber, finely diced parsley and mint, chickpeas, pistachios, diced red onion, crumbled vegan feta cheese and cranberries if using.
    3. Whisk together the lemon garlic dressing ingredients or place them in a small jar and shake well to combine.  Pour overtop the salad and toss everything well so all ingredients and the dressing are distributed evenly.  Enjoy immediately or portion into airtight storage containers or mason jars and enjoy within 4 days (after that look for normal signs of spoilage).  This recipe makes about four large portions.  Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.

    Equipment

    Glass Measuring Cups

    Buy Now →

    garlic press [use code ELAINE-10 for 10% off]

    Buy Now →

    nesting lidded glass mixing bowls

    Buy Now →

    Measuring Spoons [use code ELAINE-10 for 10% off]

    Buy Now →

    glass storage containers with lid - large

    Buy Now →

    lemon squeezer [use code ELAINE-10 for 10% off]

    Buy Now →

    good quality olive oil (use code EBE25 for 25% discount)

    Buy Now →
    • Prep Time: 15
    • Category: Lunch

    Keywords: jennifer aniston perfect salad

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @eatingbyelaine on Instagram and hashtag it #eatingbyelaine

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Abby says

      June 09, 2022 at 4:14 pm

      Finally made this salad. And now I know why she could eat this every day! This recipe came together really easily and I’m going to have salad for the whole weekend!
      Thank you for this yummy recipe!

      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        June 16, 2022 at 3:32 pm

        Haha I agree! Thanks, Abby!

        Reply
    2. Abby says

      June 15, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      This salad is everything! I love that I can make it and have leftovers that taste great for a couple days! Will be making this on repeat! Thanks for adapting this yummy salad

      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        June 16, 2022 at 3:31 pm

        Thank you so much, Abby! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it so much. I have been making it on repeat too - something about the combination is so satisfying. And it is full of nutrition so I just love making it part of my day 🙂 Thank you for taking time to leave a comment. Best, Elaine

        Reply
    3. SG says

      August 29, 2022 at 2:00 pm

      Is 6 servings enough for 6 people or do you recommend doubling?

      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        September 17, 2022 at 7:25 pm

        Hi, SG: I would think that should be enough. I hope you enjoy! Best, Elaine

        Reply
    4. Monica Thomas says

      November 18, 2022 at 2:38 pm

      I saw your IG post about this Salad & it looked so flavorful and even more important, easy to make. I made it and then I made it again (and again…) Your lemon garlic dressing really makes the difference and is yummy. Personally (and I’m a cheese lover…) the feta is not even necessary, because all the other flavors are so good together. It’s safe to say I’ll make this again (and again and again..) 😀






      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        November 21, 2022 at 4:19 pm

        Thank you so much, Monica! I really appreciate that. I agree it is good with or without the feta. So glad you liked the dressing too. I make this one ALL the time and never get sick of it 🙂 All the best, Elaine

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Get More Recipes by Category

      VGVeganGFGluten-FreePPaleoNFNut-FreeSFSoy-FreeNSNaturally Sweetened EEasy RecipesKFKid-Friendly

    Hi, I'm Elaine!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • TikTok

    Thank you for checking out my vegan and gluten-free recipes.

    Learn more about me →

    Latest Recipes

    • Pineapple Lemonade with Ginger and Turmeric (no juicing or straining needed!)
    • Moroccan Quinoa Salad
    • Crispy Oven-Roasted Smashed Broccoli
    • Creamy Vegan Lemon Orzo Soup
    • Crispy Brussels Sprouts
    • Vegan Creamed Spinach

    TikTok

    Immunity Boosting Recipes
    Discount-Codes-for-My-Favorite-Products-1

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Popular on Instagram

    ABOUT

    PRESS

    POLICIES

    CONTACT

    Copyright © 2022 Eating By Elaine