Description
A fresh and vibrant Halloumi Salad featuring grilled halloumi cheese, crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, mixed greens, and a zesty lemon-mint dressing, garnished with toasted pine nuts for added crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 8 ounces halloumi cheese (sliced into 1/4-inch slabs)
- 3 small cucumbers (sliced)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 4 ounces mixed greens (such as baby spinach or mesclun)
- 1 small red onion (thinly sliced)
- 4 tablespoons fresh mint (roughly chopped)
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (for garnish)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat pan: Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat to prepare for grilling the halloumi cheese.
- Grill halloumi: Lightly brush the halloumi slices with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place the slices on the hot grill pan and cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes until grill marks appear and the cheese softens slightly.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine sliced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, mixed greens, thinly sliced red onion, and roughly chopped fresh mint. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to make the dressing.
- Assemble salad: Drizzle the dressing over the mixed salad ingredients and gently toss to coat everything evenly. Arrange the grilled halloumi slices on top of the salad, sprinkle with toasted pine nuts, and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Grilling the halloumi gives it a slightly smoky flavor and a deliciously crispy exterior while keeping it soft inside.
- You can substitute pine nuts with toasted almonds or walnuts if preferred or to accommodate allergies.
- For added freshness, try adding a handful of fresh parsley or basil leaves to the salad mix.
- This salad is best served immediately after assembly to preserve the texture of the grilled halloumi and crisp vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Halloumi salad, grilled halloumi, Mediterranean salad, fresh salad with cheese, mint dressing, healthy vegetarian salad
