On a hot summer day, a fresh salad with some filling additions is all that is needed for lunch or dinner. This colorful salad is full of flavors and textures, and is the perfect example for such a dish. The vegetables are mixed with a light honey-mustard dressing, then topped with tangy pan fried Halloumi cheese. The pistachios and olives add another layer of flavor, and it all makes for a very tasty and filling salad. Serve it with crusty fresh bread on the side, and enjoy.
Notes:
* Halloumi cheese is a Cypriot semi-hard, unripened cheese. It has high melting point and can be fried or grilled without breading. Traditionally, it is made with sheep’s or goat’s milk, or a mix of the two, and seasoned with a bit of dried mint. Some newer versions are made with cow’s milk as well. It can be found in many supermarkets and specialty cheese stores.
* Though it doesn’t have Halloumi’s unique flavor, if you can’t find Halloumi, the Mexican “Queso de freir” (i.e. cheese for frying), can be a good substitute.
Makes: 2-4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
For the dressing:
2 tsp honey
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp grated garlic
¼ tsp freshly ground 4 peppers mix
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 large)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
For the cheese:
1 Tbs light olive oil
8 oz (225 grams) Halloumi Cheese, sliced thick
For the salad:
Inner leaves from 1 large head of Romaine lettuce, washed and dried
2-3 radishes, thinly sliced
A handful of salt cured black olives
¼ cup natural pistachios
5-6 cherry tomatoes, halved
1. In a medium bowl, mix the honey, mustard, salt, garlic, pepper and lemon juice. Whisk in the olive oil, to create a smooth dressing.
2. Heat 1 Tbs olive oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat . Add the cheese slices, in one layer. Fry for a 1-2 minutes until golden on both sides. Place on paper towel, to absorb extra oil.
3. Mix the salad ingredients in a large bowl, add the dressing and mix lightly. Transfer to a serving plate, add the fried cheese and serve immediately.
Oh, WOW! Fried cheese!!! What could be better. I’ve never seen that kind of cheese, but will try to track down the Mexican variety. There are a lot of cheeses in the Mexican grocery store that I had no idea how to use, so this will give me a hint at what I am looking at. Would love to be able to serve fried cheese sticks – they are the best!
Must do this soon, as the Romaine that I got yesterday won’t last forever. How did you know there was Romaine lurking in my fridge? ;->
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lol Yes, I have psyche powers! 🙂
I’m glad you’ve found the information about the cheese helpful. While I’m sure you’ll love the Mexican cheese, but if you happen to find the Cypriot one, do try it, as it has such a unique flavor, both from the different milk and the dried mint.
Fried cheese is indeed such a great snack.
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You have really broadened my repertoire and curiosity in the last couple of years. ;->
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Thank you Judie that’s so nice to hear!
I’m still amazed how much more I can discover and learn even after all these years in the culinary world. Endless… 🙂
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True, true! I’ve been actively cooking since I was about ten years old – so 64 years – and like you, am always amazed at how many good things there are to enjoy! My mother worked at a grocery store that catered to the rich elite in Miami for most of my growing up years, so I got exposed early on to a wide variety of unusual foods. But it was NOTHING compared to what is available today! And you are really opening my eyes to things that I have had no clue about. ;->
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I would love to see the store your mother worked at. I’m sure they’ve had such interesting items.
It’s really amazing how now every supermarket has such a huge variety of ingredient. We are so lucky in that. 🙂
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Google: Bert’s Groceteria
We moved to Miami in 1949 (from Michigan), and she went to work there soon after, staying through the 50’s into the early 60’s. It is gone now, of course. But at the time, we ate like kings and queens. She got a store discount, but everything was top drawer – the very best of everything for the elite – and very expensive.
I can remember going there after school and browsing around the “delicacies” of chocolate-covered ants, fried grasshoppers, etc. – ewwwwww! The big treat was that I got an Eskimo Pie. It was ten cents; not a small amount in those days, so it wasn’t an every-day affair. Almost her entire paycheck was spent before she ever got it. I can remember seeing payroll check stubs for $2.xx for a week of work – school hours.
She worked there part time while I was in school, and then off all summer, too. We didn’t have a car, telephone, or television, but boy did we have great food! She was an excellent and tireless cook and baker (and teacher of homemaking skills!), so I grew up knowing only the best of the best, and was rarely sick other than the usual colds that kids pass around in school, measles and chicken pox.
Maybe in New York there might still be such an emporium, and my eyes may be dimmed, but I haven’t seen anything like it since – not even in the San Francisco Bay Area where we lived for eleven years. Tucson has a close competitor in A.J.’s, so it is probably a good thing, that it is not an easy reach for me.
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Wow, that sounds like a foodie’s heaven!
NY has many wonderful food emporiums, markets and specialty stores of any kind, but I don’t recall seeing chocolate-covered ants nor fried grasshoppers in any of them! Guess I’ll have to keep on looking. 🙂
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I was too young to appreciate it at the time. It seemed normal to me. Thank heavens for that experience. As they say . . . It made me what I am today! ;->
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I’m sure that tasting such delicacies at a young age stayed with you even if you didn’t appreciate it at the time. It opens the mind to trying new things. That’s why I’m against “children’s menu” for kids. How are they going to develop a palate if they’re fed nothing but tasteless foods from early age? No wonder we have so many fussy adults now… 🙂
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Mom was a good, but fairly plain Midwestern cook. I branched out when I got married at 19. Still experimenting every chance I get. Seldom make the exact same dish twice.
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I can see that from your blog! 🙂
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I don’t think I have ever had Halloumi cheese, but will try it soon.
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I’m glad I could introduce you to a new ingredient. Halloumii cheese is well worth looking for. I’m sure you’ll like it. 🙂
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I don’t believe I’ve ever had Halloumii Cheese but I’m willing to try… Your salad looks amazing ! Next time I’m at the store (and we have amazing cheese shops in our supermarkets here) I am going to ask about it☺️ and try. Thank you for sharing!!
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Thank you, I’m glad you’re found the information interesting. Halloumi cheese is well worth looking for. Aside from adding it to salads, it makes a great snack on its own. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
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A green salad with a simple dressing is always a good thing – then top it with fried Halloumi cheese and it becomes more appetizing. Especially now with all the fresh greens and veggies at the Farmer’s Markets – only wish the season would last longer 🙂
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Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. While I too wish for the season to last longer for the wonderful fresh produce, I still can’t stand the heat and humidity, so I’m split about that! 🙂
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Yummy, looks so fresh, colorful and delicious! 😀
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Thank you Kreso! The salad was indeed very fresh and tasty. Perfect for a hot summer day. 🙂
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Yum, his is my type of salad! I love halloumi and usually like it with something acid like tomatoes to cut through the richness do the cheese. The combination of black olives and tomatoes in this salad would be perfect,
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Thank you Marcella, I’m glad you liked the salad. I agree, Halloumi is best combined with a bit of acidity, which cuts down the richness. I also like to add some sweetness as well, as I’ve done here with the honey. 🙂
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Another great Migraine-friendly recipe Ronit. I love to do my haloumi on the BBQ. I learned from a Greek Yia-Yia to put a piece of baking paper on the grate to keep the cheese from sticking. It cooks up fabulously and has pretty grill marks on it. Plus I can get Stuart to do that while I make the salad! Bravo 💜💜💜💜💜
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Thank you Adele, I’m glad you liked the salad and that it’s migraine -safe.
Yes, grilled Halloumi is wonderful, and even more so, when someone else is grilling it! 🙂
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Yummm, I love fried halloumi. Such a perfect combination with the colourful salad! xx lina
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Yum, this sounds great!
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Thank you Dena! 🙂
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Ronit,
I like halloumi cheese a lot too and your honey mustard dressing seems perfect with it. And adding those pistachios and olives…..I want to make it NOW!
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Thank you Sandhya, I’m glad you liked the salad. All the ingredients worked so well together, so it was worth writing it down. Wish I could send you some. 🙂
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I wish so too, Ronit! 🙂
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What a gorgeous salad Ronit! I have been wanting to try Halloumi cheese for over a year now. I just have to remember to look for it!
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Thank you Kathryn, I’m glad you liked the salad. I’m sure you’ll love Halloumi cheese once you get it. 🙂
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That looks really good, Ronit. I have been eating a lot of salads lately because of my intolerance of the heat and Halloumi would be a great ingredient to add. Thanks for the share. Now I’ll have to experiment. 🙂
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Thank you Rini, I’m glad you liked the salad. It is so refreshing on a hot day, while the cheese adds some filling substance to make it last. Hope you’ll enjoy it too. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. 🙂
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Delicious!
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Thank you Tammy! 🙂
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Can’t go wrong with such a delicious salad. I love Halloumi.
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So true Myra, especially on a hot summer day. 🙂
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Salad looks amazing… very new to me but would love to taste…
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Thank you Ruchi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this special cheese, especially with a fresh salad like this one. 🙂
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Ya definitely
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Colourful Goodies… Salad looks perfect and amazing…
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Thank you Dimple, I’m glad you liked the salad. It was the perfect lunch for a hot day. 🙂
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I love a delicious salad like this, especially during summer😋😚
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Thank you Ursula, glad you liked the recipe. Such salads do make the hot summer a bit more bearable. 🙂
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I loved your recipe Ronit…..but I am quite tensed because can I cook it myself??
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Thank you Priyabrataa, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I’m sure you’ll be able to make it easily and enjoy it. 🙂
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Wow, Ronit – you’re talking to the converted. Halloumi is one of my favourite things to eat. Thanks for this recipe – I’m always on the look out for new ways to eat this fabulous cheese.
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Thank you Tracey, I’m glad to find another Halloumi fan! It turns this simple salad into a satisfying summer lunch. Hope you’ll enjoy it too. 🙂
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Yum. Looks great.
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Thank you Paul! 🙂
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That is my kind of salad! Love it!
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Thank you Aletta, I’m glad to hear. 🙂
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I thought I commented on this – but maybe I didn’t! The salad looks great but that cheese has me just about ready to run down to the cheese shop! Oh, does that look incredible!!
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You’re so right Mollie, the cheese indeed is the major attraction of this salad. Well worth trying! 🙂
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Looks like an amazing light lunch or entré! Your descriptions and pictures are very detailed!
Kathrin — http://mycupofenglishtea.wordpress.com
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Thank you Kathrin, I’m glad you liked the salad and photos. 🙂
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Looks great as always!
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Thank you Kendall! 🙂
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Oooh perfect for our BBQ this weekend 🙂 while none of us is a vegetarian, we all like a generous dose of cheese! I haven’t messed around with halloumi in a long time, it’s time to give it another go, I think~! The small turkish butchery near the farmer’s market make their own halloumi, so the “good stuff” is easy to come by. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
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Thank you Diana, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Yes, this is perfect for BBQ weekend. You’re very lucky to have fresh Halloumi – I’m sure it will give even better results. Enjoy! 🙂
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This looks incredibly delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipes with us:)
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Thank you! 🙂
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Wooowwiiiieeeee…I’m gonna definitely try this out…
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Thank you. 🙂
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You are welcome…
Also you can check out more recipes on my website sabkimaggi.com
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Halloumi salad is very good with your way! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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