This recipe is inspired by a salad Jennifer Aniston supposedly ate on the set of Friends! Her salad was very similar to a delicious tabbouleh salad I have been making for years.
It’s a recipe I actually tweaked over the years and designed for skin health! Since Jennifer Aniston has always had beautiful skin, I felt this quinoa tabbouleh salad recipe was very fitting.
I went gluten free and dairy free over 10 years ago due to severe eczema and since then I’ve cured my lifelong eczema through diet and lifestyle.
Creating Skin Healthy Recipes
Using my knowledge of eczema and psoriasis and holistic nutrition I create recipes that are made for healing by incorporating skin healthy foods and omitting foods that negatively impact the skin from the inside out.
The original recipe consisted of bulgar, cucumber, red onion, chickpeas, cheese and herbs of mint and parlsey.
I don’t doubt that it is also a very good salad. This recipe is similar to that making some swaps to make it vegan/dairy free and gluten free as well as adding some delicious skin healthy additions!
Going Gluten Free
I used quinoa for the base of this dish. It is one of my favorite go-to grains as it is very versitile and I love the texture.
Quinoa is a complete protein which is a very important component of collagen formation. More collagen = young, healthy looking skin. This is why it’s my preferred grain for plant based diets as well.
There are many different types of quinoa but I highly recommend white sprouted quinoa for this. Not only for taste but it is the best way to digest this grain and really good way to get all the healthy benefits from it when it is sprouted. I always have this quinoa on hand!
Food is thy Medicine
Next on the list of important ingredients (especially when looking to heal conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne) is fresh herbs!
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Parsley
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Mint
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Scallion
Herbs are incredibly medicinal. This is one of the many reasons I love making this salad often.
Parsley specifically is great for healing eczema from within. Mint is packed with vitamins and minerals and promotes digestion.
Scallions, aka green onions are high in sulfur and one of my top food recommendations for anyone struggling with any form of acne. Parsley and onions are great to help eliminate heavy metals safely from the body which is often a root cause in many skin conditions, based on my research.
My trick to cutting the parsley quickly and perfectly every time is using a double handle mezzaluna. This device allows you to chop herbs very fine and therefore eat way more of them! Plus it’s so fun to use!
If you grew up in an Italian kitchen, you may be familiar with this incredible kitchen tool.
Cucumber is another great food especially for eczema and psoriasis, as these conditions are often associated with dry, parched skin and cucumber is incredibly hydrating on a cellular level. This can also have anti-aging benefits.
I love adding tomatoes to this dish. You can use any kind you like but I really like cherry tomatoes for the size and flavor, as well as sun-dried tomatoes.
Tomatoes are packed with antioxidants and nutrients like lypocene. It is said that consuming tomatoes (especially sun-dried) can help to protect against sun damage. Making them an underrated anti-aging food in my opinion!
For skin nourishing healthy fats, I added in kalamata olives, avocado, chia seeds, tahini and olive oil.
Last but not least, topping it all off with the *tahini drizzle*! Tahini is one of my favorite skin healthy foods and is a wonderful addition to this quinoa tabbouleh salad!
FAQ
What can I substitute for quinoa?
You can substitute with millet or brown rice if you are gluten free and if not, faro, bulgar and couscous are great options as well!
What can I substitute for tomatoes?
Orange, red and/or yellow bell pepper make a great substitution for tomatoes and are another great skin food.
What if I can’t have nuts?
You can omit the pistachios or substitute with hemp seeds, sunflower seeds or roasted pumpkin seeds.
Can I meal prep this dish?
Yes! This is one of my go-to recipes for meal prep! I used to bring this work. Since there is no dairy products it travels well. You can refrigerate the night before and store in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
If preparing the night before or planning on storing for several days, you can leave some dressing on the side and wait to add avocado the day of to keep the texture.
What else can we add to this dish?
If you’re looking to add some extra protein, I love adding chickpeas to this. Chickpeas are inexpensive and a great way to bulk up a salad.
What other foods can I add to my diet to heal eczema and psoriasis?
Sweet potato, hemp seeds, papaya, pears, romaine (and all lettuce), sprouts, Aloe Vera
What other foods are good for healing acne?
Garlic (especially raw), onions, berries, red bell pepper, onions, winter squash, oregano, thyme, cinnamon
In regards to Friends, were they on a break or weren’t they??
This is a big question and I am not prepared to comment at this time 😉
Check out the recipe video below!
"The Jennifer Aniston" Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
Equipment
- Mezzaluna (optional) see link above
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa dried
- 2 cups vegetable broth look for oil free
- 1 head of parsley, finely chopped
- 1 cup mint, chopped
- 2 scallions, chopped green onions
- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/2 cucumber, diced or 2 Persian cucumbers, diced
- 1/3 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 avocado, diced optional
- 1-2 tbsp tahini runny one is best
Lemon Chia Seed Dressing
- Juice of 1 large lemon about 1/4 cup
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3 tsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- To pot, add quinoa and vegetable broth. Cover with the lid and bring to a boil. Leaving the lid on, reduce to a low simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove lid and fluff with a fork, cover and let it sit for another 10 minutes with the heat off.
- While the quinoa cooks, make the lemon chia seed dressing by combining all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and mix together with a spoon. Allow this to sit for at least 10 minutes before using to allow chia seeds to gelatinize.
- Once your quinoa is done, place 2-3 cups into a large bowl. Then add all remaining salad ingredients (aside from avocado and tahini) and mix together.
- Then top the quinoa tabbouleh with lemon chia seed dressing and mix until well combined. Add in diced avocado and top with tahini drizzle.
- Enjoy!
- Store in an airtight glass container for up to 5 days.
Video
Wow amazing recipe!! I’m definitely making this for meal prep, thank you 😃