Keep in mind final summer season when everybody was making the viral “Jennifer Aniston” salad? Whereas I’m not one to leap on each development I see on social media, this one ended up too good to not make and share on the weblog.
Just like the identify suggests, my formidable tackle this superb herby chickpea feta pasta salad has a pasta base for all of these yummy mix-ins and that candy, tangy lemon French dressing. We’re getting freshness from tons of various herbs, slightly crunch from pistachios and cucumber, loads of salty, savory taste from feta cheese, and a lift of protein from chickpeas.
I imply, what’s to not love?! This pasta salad is SO fast and straightforward to make, bursting with summer season flavors, and extremely satisfying. Get pleasure from it as a principal meal or a facet dish in your subsequent BBQ!
All the pieces you’ll must make this chickpea feta pasta salad
This contemporary, completely scrumptious salad is my tackle Jennifer Aniston’s well-known salad. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Pasta: our lady Jen makes use of bulgar in her viral salad recipes, however I opted for pasta as a result of pasta salad + summer season = a match made in heaven. I used orzo photographed right here, however see beneath for tons of choices!
- Chickpeas: you’ll get a lift of protein by including a can of chickpeas.
- Veggies & herbs: had been including Persian cucumbers, heirloom cherry tomatoes, pickled crimson onions, and tons of contemporary herbs like parsley, mint (or basil), and dill. Be at liberty to make use of what you’ve!
- Combine-ins: get some crunch from roasted pistachios, and saltiness from feta cheese to spherical out the flavors.
- For the dressing: the straightforward lemon French dressing is made with contemporary lemon juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, crimson pepper flakes, slightly sugar or honey, and black pepper.
Make this salad your individual
Like just about all salad recipes, this chickpea feta pasta salad is straightforward to customise to your style preferences. Right here’s what I can counsel:
- Choose your pasta: be at liberty to make use of any form you’d like! I really like fusilli, orzo, bowties, and casarecce. Gluten-free pasta works completely, too.
- Strive a brand new grain: not into the noodles? Strive bulgar (like Jennifer), farro, quinoa, or pearl couscous.
- Preserve it vegan: merely omit the feta and use sugar as an alternative of honey within the dressing.
- Combine up the veggies: I feel bell pepper and creamy avocado would even be nice on this salad.
- Go nut free: omit the pistachios or swap them for sunflower seeds or pepitas as an alternative.
Discover your excellent dressing
Within the viral Jennifer Aniston salad she makes use of a mixture of simply lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. I opted for a lemon French dressing that has extra punch with the addition of dijon, garlic, and so forth. however my Wholesome Lemon Basil French dressing or my Wholesome Greek Dressing would even be scrumptious.
On the lookout for an additional enhance of protein?
This herby chickpea feta pasta salad packs 20g per serving as is, however be at liberty to toss in 1 cup of cooked, chopped rooster breast for an additional enhance! My Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Hen can be excellent on the facet or combined into the salad.
Prep this chickpea and feta pasta salad forward of time
When you plan to make this for a celebration or need to make it forward of time, I like to recommend chopping the veggies, cooking the pasta, and mixing the dressing, then storing them in separate hermetic containers within the fridge. Whenever you’re able to serve, Toss the pasta, veggies, herbs, and mix-ins collectively, then pour the dressing over and toss once more.
Storing suggestions
Retailer any leftover pasta salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days.
Extra salad recipes you’ll love
Get all of my salad recipes right here!
I hope you’re keen on this herby chickpea and feta pasta salad! When you make it you’ll want to depart a remark and a score so I understand how you favored it. Get pleasure from, xo!
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Herby Chickpea and Feta Pasta Salad
Lovely herby chickpea and feta pasta salad, AKA the viral “Jennifer Aniston” salad made with pasta! This straightforward salad is filled with veggies and scrumptious mix-ins like feta, pistachios, pickled crimson onions, and tons of contemporary herbs. Toss all of it in a lightweight lemon French dressing for the right lunch or dinner that takes simply 20 minutes to make.
Elements
- 1 pound pasta (casarecce, orzo, fusilli or bowties are favorites!)
- 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 heaping cup chopped persian cucumber (about 4 persian cucumbers)
- 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ¾ cup feta crumbles)
- ½ heaping cup roasted unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
- ½ heaping cup pickled crimson onions
- ⅓ cup chopped contemporary parsley
- ¼ cup chopped contemporary mint or basil
- 2 to three tablespoons chopped contemporary dill
- For the lemon French dressing:
- ¼ cup contemporary lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon crimson pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
- Numerous freshly floor black pepper
Directions
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Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil and prepare dinner the pasta till al dente, in response to the instructions on the package deal. Drain, rinse with cool water for 1 minute and switch to a big bowl.
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Within the giant bowl with the pasta, add the chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, pistachios, pickled crimson onions, parsley, mint and dill. Toss effectively to mix.
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Make the French dressing: In a small bowl or mason jar: add the lemon juice, olive oil, dijon, garlic, salt, crimson pepper flakes, sugar (or honey) and many freshly floor black pepper. Whisk till effectively mixed and emulsified, or alternatively, place a lid on the jar and shake till effectively mixed.
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Toss once more to mix, then season with freshly floor salt and pepper to style. Serves 4 to six.
Recipe Notes
When you’d like you possibly can add extra protein by tossing in 1 cup of chopped cooked rooster breast to the salad.
Vitamin
Serving: 1serving (based mostly on 6)Energy: 595calCarbohydrates: 77.3gProtein: 20.6gFats: 23.1gSaturated Fats: 6.1gFiber: 7.8gSugar: 7.9g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Images by: Eat Love Eats
