All hail halloumi! It is without a doubt one of my fave foods ever! I first tasted halloumi when I made a Nigella Lawson recipe for roast sweet potatoes and vegetables that was topped with it. From then on I was hooked! It was my favourite thing to eat when on holiday with my best friend in Cyprus and the takeaway place opposite our hotel made simple grilled halloumi in pitta breads that I continued to make for myself when I got home.
There is just something about it’s salty taste and texture I absolutely love. It is fairly high in fat and therefore calories, so I do eat it on occasion rather than regularly, but for me I think that just makes it taste all the better. It’s made with a mix of sheep and goats milk which means it could be easier to digest than some conventional cows milk dairy products for some individuals.
Since I stopped having so much of a fancy for bready things I started to enjoy halloumi in salads or with grilled vegetables. As I love the combo of cheese, fruit and nuts in a salad it wasn’t going to be long until I tried it with halloumi.
Other cheese, fruit and nut salads include my fig and goats cheese salad and my blueberry, buckwheat and feta salad. For this particular version I have to acknowledge Sarah Wilson for her salted caramel apple halloumi and Scandi Home’s grilled peaches and halloumi salad, both of which inspired this one.
I choose to add toasted walnuts and basil to this and the flavours work together wonderfully. It would also work just as well with fresh mint, especially if the peach was replaced with strawberries.
I usually just dress my salads with lots of balsamic vinegar rather than mix it with oil into a vinaigrette but feel free to add whatever dressing floats your boat.
- Approximately 1/3 standard block of halloumi
- 1 peach
- 15g walnuts
- handful of fresh basil leaves
- Mixed salad leaves
- Balsamic vinegar
- Wash the mixed salad leaves and assemble in a bowl. Finely slice the halloumi and set a frying pan on a medium high heat. Slice the peach and set aside. Crumble the walnuts into the hot pan and toast for a few minutes to release the flavour. Set aside. Place slices of the halloumi into the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes per side. The cheese should be dark brown in places and well toasted. Take the halloumi out of the pan and sit on a plate. Turn the heat off and add the peaches to the pan. Give them a quick shake and flip about so they are just caramelised. Tear the halloumi into bite size pieces and put on top of the mixed leaves. Add the peach slices followed by the walnuts. Finely chop the basil and add on top along with a quick splash of balsamic vinegar. Enjoy!
This is just a fabulous salad, and more than enough to win over any salad haters! This is a light dish while still being filling and absolutely full of flavour and textures. Sweet and salty never fails!
Are you a halloumi fan? Have you tried cheese and fruit together in a salad yet?
Loving your photos – so fresh bright and yummy looking! I love as a bit of a treat Stilton and apple in a salad – sounds a bit weird so so good if your a stinky cheese fan!
Thanks Kezia! My Nan used to love cheshire cheese and apple, you’ve made me crave some of that now!
I absolutely LOVE halloumi but for some reason do not eat it at home … this habit NEEDS to change :-)
If certainly does! I think it tastes better when you make it yourself too!
I love Halloumi – it is so the best cheese ever. I love the flavour combo here, I love basil too! It looks so good! I am 100% going to try this! Peaches are so good at the moment!
Ooh let me know if you do try it and what you think!
I love hallmoumi. I haven’t had any for ages. We call it squeeky cheese in our house.
Haha it is squeeky isn’t it! I don’t think anything else has the same texture :-)
I do like haloumi- we have been grilling it and then having it with salad and cous cous. It is quite salty, so I love the idea of the sweet peach..
I’d love to try it on a bbq some time, it goes so well with sweet fruit :-)
I have tried it once but I must experiment more as so many people I know love it, this salad looks wonderful! So pretty and very inviting….can I come for lunch? x
You can come for lunch any time! ;-)
AAh peaches…peaches everywhere…this is summer time for you. I am on such a peach hype, and every peach recipe that I see makes me go a little more crazy for peaches! This looks insanely delicious x
Gorgeous pictures Laura. I’ve never had peach and walnut together, will have to give it a go :)
Oh I adore haloumi. I love how when you grill it it just oomphs it up to the most incredible thing ever. We’re big fans in our household! Love putting fruit in salads too. Adds a nice sweet freshness.
This looks incredible! One of my favourite things ever is Delia Smith’s halloumi in caper and lime dressing (which is LUSH) so I can’t wait to try this.
Hi! I made this salad today and it was SO good! I made with a little blood orange and balsamic dressing.
So glad you enjoyed it Jude! The dressing sounds delicious :-)