Jennifer Aniston Salad (2024)

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By The Modern Nonna

on Jan 17, 2022, Updated Feb 08, 2024

4.80 from 5 votes

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make a recipe that becomes a viral sensation worldwide? Well, your very own Modern Nonna did just that with the Jennifer Aniston Salad! During the ten years that Jennifer Aniston was on the set of “Friends,” it’s rumored that she ate this salad every day. That rumor has now been debunked, and actually a cobb salad instead of this one!

Table of Contents

  • Why You’ll Love the Jennifer Aniston Salad
  • How to Prepare the Jennifer Aniston Salad
  • Nonna’s Tip 🥗
  • Jennifer Aniston Salad Variations and Substitutions
  • More Salad Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Jennifer Aniston’s Perfect Salad Recipe

When I first heard about this through various magazine articles online, I knew they had to make it my own! The result? A Modern Nonna Version of the “Perfect Salad” that became a viral trend online and in the food world. This salad was so huge that reporters were calling me to ask about the salad, and it was featured in articles and newspapers 📰 worldwide.

Why You’ll Love the Jennifer Aniston Salad

What’s not to love about this fantastic salad?! The freshness of the mint and 🌿 parsley in this salad is perfection. Not to mention, bulgur is packed with fiber and protein. I personally like to add a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of lemon 🍋 juice to my salad, which gives it a tangy and zesty taste. You can also add chickpeas or meat as a protein source if you prefer. Overall, this salad is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a delicious and healthy meal.

How to Prepare the Jennifer Aniston Salad

💦 Cook bulgur in water on the stove, by following rice cooking instructions or package directions.

🌿 Finely dice herbs and vegetables and add them to a bowl with the cooked and cooled bulgur. Mix well. Optional: Add chickpeas if desired.

🍋 Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed and then you can enjoy Jennifer Anniston’s “Perfect Salad”!

Nonna’s Tip 🥗

I personally felt like the salad could use a touch of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and salt but feel free to leave it out as the original recipe does not have a dressing. Feel free to use quinoa or any other option such as couscous if you don’t like bulgur.

Jennifer Aniston Salad (2)

Jennifer Aniston Salad Variations and Substitutions

Salads always lend themselves to creativity, and this 🥗 salad is no different. Don’t forget to let me know in the comments how you make this healthy salad your own!

  1. Instead of bulgur, you can use quinoa, couscous, brown rice, or farro.
  2. Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand or prefer. Some options include cucumbers, 🍅 tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, radishes, or carrots. You can also try roasted vegetables if you have them.
  3. Experiment with different 🌿 herbs such as parsley, cilantro, mint, dill, or basil in this version of Jennifer Aniston’s “Perfect Salad”.
  4. Besides chickpeas, you can add other protein sources such as grilled chicken, tofu, shrimp, or feta 🧀 cheese.
  5. Add a bed of greens 🥬 like spinach, arugula, or kale as a base for the salad.

More Salad Recipes

Herbed Cranberry Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

15 mins

Jennifer Aniston Couscous Salad

15 mins

Best Served With

  • Some crunchy bread like my No Knead Peasant Bread
  • Grilled meat like steak 🥩 or chicken to add some protein
  • Chickpeas or tofu for a plant-based protein source in Jennifer Anniston’s “Perfect Salad”

Common Questions

What can I use instead of bulgur?

Instead of bulgur, you can use quinoa, couscous, brown rice, or farro.

How can I add more protein to this salad?

If you want to keep this salad vegetarian or vegan, you could add chickpeas or tofu. Or if you eat meat, feel free to add chicken, ground beef, or grilled shrimp.

What herbs are best in this salad?

Recommended herbs for Jennifer Aniston’s “Perfect Salad” include parsley and mint. You could also try cilantro, dill, basil, or a combination of any herbs you like, to change up the flavor.

Can this salad be made ahead of time?

Yes, this salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for several hours before serving. Just make sure to add the dressing right before serving to maintain freshness and texture.

Jennifer Aniston’s Perfect Salad

What's not to love about this fantastic salad?! The freshness of the mint and 🌿 parsley in this salad is perfection.

4.80 from 5 votes

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 2

Author: The Modern Nonna

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Bulgur , cook on the stove as per the directions on the package
  • ½ red onion, finely diced
  • ½ cup parsley, finely diced
  • cup mint, finely diced
  • cup pistachios , to taste
  • 2 mini cucumbers , finely diced
  • chickpeas, optional
  • 1 handful feta

Instructions

  • In a pot on the stove add one cup of bulgur and 2 cups water. Cook the bulgur just like you would cook rice or you can follow the package instructions.

  • Finely dice all of your herbs and vegetables and take your time because this should be therapeutic and enjoyable. Add everything to a bowl with the cooked and cooled down bulgur and mix.

  • Feel free to add some chickpeas as that was in the original recipe but I felt like leaving them out. I added a touch of olive oil, lemon juice, and salt but feel free to adjust. Enjoy

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcal, Carbohydrates: 64g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 195mg, Potassium: 674mg, Fiber: 16g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1738IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 165mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

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Categorized as:
Salads and Sides

Jennifer Aniston Salad (8)

Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

More about me

Jennifer Aniston Salad (9)

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Jennifer Aniston Salad (2024)

FAQs

What is the Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

She spent the day sharing pieces of her life, including a few of her favorite meals. For lunch, she had what is now known as the Jennifer Aniston salad: bulgur wheat, cucumber, herbs, chickpeas, feta, red onion, and pistachios.

Is the 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 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!

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.

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 actually eat? ›

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."

How many Weight Watchers points is the Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

And I am honestly so happy with this salad. It's soooo good. 5 weight watchers points a serving.

What does Jennifer Aniston eat for lunch everyday? ›

Lunch. Lunch is "some form of vegetables or salad with protein—pretty basic," she tells Elle. But just because it's basic doesn't mean Aniston leaves it up to chance. She plans ahead to make it possible to toss something nutritious together even during the busiest of days.

Did Jennifer Aniston really eat the same salad everyday? ›

It dates back to a 2010 Los Angeles Times interview with Courteney Cox where she says she, Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow ate lunch together every single day and ate the same salad every day. "We always had the same thing — a Cobb salad. But it wasn't really a Cobb salad.

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.

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 herbs are in Jennifer Aniston's salad? ›

The Jennifer Aniston chickpea salad is a tabbouleh inspired dish. Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern herb salad featuring loads of fresh parsley, mint, lemon, and bulgur wheat. She added some other tasty ingredients like crunchy pistachios, crisp cucumber, and salty feta cheese.

Is Jennifer Aniston a vegetarian? ›

But is Jennifer Aniston vegan? No, Jennifer Aniston is not vegan. Although she has supported animal charities for dogs and cats and has spoken out against the slaughter of dolphins in Japan, she has never opposed the slaughter of other animals and continues to eat meat and consume and use other animal products.

Is the 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.

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