Easy plant based meals that will not disapoint! Going plant-based has never tasted better with this Jennifer Aniston Salad. This is a great salad, even if you are not just into plant-based eating. The flavor is on point; the texture had a good mix of creamy and crunch. I am in love, love, love with salad.  

It is a great summer salad and one of those easy plant-based meals you can have repeatedly. 

I just discovered this salad, and it quickly became one of my favorite summer salad recipes and go-to meals. 

Weekday dinner can be a scramble to get on the table, and this quinoa salad makes it easy to get a delicious healthy dinner on the table. 

I call it a quinoa salad because that is one of the main ingredients of this salad. 

Let’s talk about what makes this salad so yummy and healthy. Can we just WOW at how many nutrient-dense ingredients are in this recipe and that it is a complete meal on its own? 

This salad also had a variety of textures and flavors so that with every bite, you get this mix of crunchy from the nuts to the smoothness from the feta and a bit of tanginess from the lemon. 

The lemon, fresh cucumber, and mint make this one of those perfect summer salad recipes that are light and refreshing. 

Now that we have covered the yummy part, I want to share with you what makes this salad so healthy. I just want to add that you can substitute quinoa for bulgur wheat in this recipe, which I did. 

There are health benefits to using both quinoa and bulger wheat, so you can not go wrong with whichever you choose. 

Quinoa or bulgur wheat is the base of this salad. Both grains are packed with vitamins and minerals and are carbs we want to love. When it comes to quinoa, not only is it low glycemic, meaning it will not spike your blood sugar, but a great source of fiber. 

What’s so special about foods rich in fiber, you ask? The high fiber content will help keep you feeling fuller longer. The sense of fullness will help you feel satisfied between meals so that your tummy is happy and help keep those hunger pains a bay.  

Another added benefit to high-fiber foods is that you tend to feel more satisfied with less food because of that feeling of fullness from the fiber. 

Quinoa is also a great source of minerals such as magnesium, folate, potassium, and iron. 

Quinoa is an excellent source of plant-based protein. If you are vegan, this is a fantastic protein source for you that is vegan-friendly. This grain is also gluten-free. If you are opting out of eating gluten, then definetly use the quinoa in this recipe. 

Quinoa is a complete protein because it has all nine essential amino acids our bodies do not naturally produce. Hooray for that!! 

Regarding protein, quinoa is about 8 grams per cup. As you can see, quinoa is such a powerhouse grain.  

I used bulgur wheat in this recipe because it was what I was feeling at the time.

Bulgur wheat, like quinoa, is another powerhouse grain because of its high nutritional value. I feel like bulgur wheat needs to get the spotlight more often. 

It is an incredibly versatile whole grain with ancient roots in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and West Asian cuisines — and with good reason. Bulgur has a mild flavor making it very versatile to use, and a silky texture. 

Like quinoa, bulgur wheat is a nutrient-dense food and an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and protein. The high fiber content can even help with weight loss or management.

This particular whole grain is also a good source of manganese, magnesium, zinc, folate, and iron while being slightly lower in calories than similar whole grains, such as brown rice or quinoa.

Bulgur is also a heart-healthy grain that can help control blood sugar levels and promote healthy gut bacteria. 

The other ingredients in this summer salad recipe that help elevate it in terms of nutrient density and yummies are the garbanzo beans and the herbs. 

Garbanzo beans add a creamy and hearty element to this recipe. They also hold their own in terms of nutritional value. They are a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.

 Garbanzo beans are an excellent source of plant-based quality protein because of the essential amino acids they contain. 

The fiber in the garbanzo beans will keep you feeling fuller longer and satisfied with smaller portion amounts. 

One trend with most of the ingredients in this salad is that they are high in fiber (which will keep you feeling fuller longer and with smaller portions) and rich in vitamins and minerals. 

The mint and parsley in this recipe deliver that punch in flavor along with the lemon. Both the mind and parsley have some fantastic health benefits as well. 

Mint has immune-boosting properties such as vitamin C, iron, and calcium source. This little green herb is renowned for its gut-soothing properties and may help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and indigestion.

Our other little green herb in this recipe, parsley, also has healing properties. Parsely with antioxidant-rich vitamins, folate, and iron, parsley is also an excellent source of vitamin K, which is essential for bone health and blood clotting. 

The lemon, feta, and red onion should also get their recognition. The red onion gives this salad a bit of crunch in addition to the pistachio. The pistachio is that ingredient that pleasantly surprises you. 

Like the garbanzo beans, the feta is the smooth, silky element that works with the crunch of the red onion and pistachio to add that balance. 

Now on to the dressing for this fabulous quinoa salad, plant-based salad, Jennifer Aniston salad, or whatever you want to call it. You can even call it that yummy salad that I can not stop eating. The dressing is a nice hint of tang from the lemon balanced with the smoothness and nutty flavor of the olive oil. 

Recipes like this are the best in my book when you are trying to eat healthy and be a mindful eater. The ingredients are nutrient-packed, the flavors are all there, and the texture is on point.  

Healthy eating should be delicious, flavorful, simple, quick, and enjoyable. I hope you love this salad as much as I did. From my heart to yours, happy, healthy eating!

Ps…If you like this recipe please be sure to check out my super sime Peruvian Chicken. Such an easy chicken dinner recipe that is a fav at my house.

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