Keep in mind final summer time when everybody was making the viral “Jennifer Aniston” salad? Whereas I’m not one to leap on each pattern 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, somewhat 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 time flavors, and extremely satisfying. Get pleasure from it as a fundamental meal or a aspect dish on your subsequent BBQ!
All the things you’ll have to make this chickpea feta pasta salad
This recent, completely scrumptious salad is my tackle Jennifer Aniston’s well-known quinoa salad. Right here’s what you’ll have to 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 time = 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: have been including Persian cucumbers, heirloom cherry tomatoes, pickled pink onions, and tons of recent herbs like parsley, mint (or basil), and dill. Be happy to make use of what you’ve got!
- Combine-ins: get some crunch from roasted pistachios, and saltiness from feta cheese to spherical out the flavors.
- For the dressing: the simple lemon French dressing is made with recent lemon juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, pink pepper flakes, somewhat sugar or honey, and black pepper.
Make this salad your personal
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 recommend:
- Decide your pasta: be at liberty to make use of any form you’d like! I like fusilli, orzo, bowties, and casarecce. Gluten-free pasta works completely, too.
- Attempt a brand new grain: not into the noodles? Attempt bulgar (like Jennifer), farro, quinoa, or pearl couscous.
- Preserve it vegan: merely omit the feta and use sugar as a substitute of honey within the dressing.
- Combine up the veggies: I believe 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 a substitute.
Discover your good 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 on. however my Wholesome Lemon Basil French dressing or my Wholesome Greek Dressing would even be scrumptious.
In search of an additional increase 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 hen breast for an additional increase! My Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Hen could be good on the aspect or blended into the salad.
Prep this chickpea and feta pasta salad forward of time
If you happen to plan to make this for a celebration or wish 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. While you’re able to serve, Toss the pasta, veggies, herbs, and mix-ins collectively, then pour the dressing over and toss once more.
Storing ideas
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! If you happen to make it remember to depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you preferred 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 simple salad is full of veggies and scrumptious mix-ins like feta, pistachios, pickled pink onions, and tons of recent herbs. Toss all of it in a light-weight lemon French dressing for the proper 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 pink onions
- ⅓ cup chopped recent parsley
- ¼ cup chopped recent mint or basil
- 2 to three tablespoons chopped recent dill
- For the lemon French dressing:
- ¼ cup recent lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pink pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
- A number of 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 accordance with the instructions on the bundle. Drain, rinse with cool water for 1 minute and switch to a big bowl.
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Within the massive bowl with the pasta, add the chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, feta, pistachios, pickled pink onions, parsley, mint and dill. Toss nicely 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, pink pepper flakes, sugar (or honey) and many freshly floor black pepper. Whisk till nicely mixed and emulsified, or alternatively, place a lid on the jar and shake till nicely 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
If you happen to’d like you possibly can add extra protein by tossing in 1 cup of chopped cooked hen breast to the salad.
Diet
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 | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats
