Summer salad with grilled halloumi, watermelon, pistachios and a mustard vinaigrette.
Grilled halloumi salad with watermelon, avocado and rocket is a summer favourite that is fresh, filling and full of flavour. The salty, golden halloumi is a perfect match for the sweet, juicy watermelon, the creamy avocado and the lightly peppery rocket, while a fresh mustard vinaigrette ties it all together. If rocket isn’t for you, swap it for lamb’s lettuce, for example.
The halloumi is grilled over a hot barbecue until lightly crisp and golden on both sides, with a soft centre. If you don’t have the barbecue lit, the cheese can just as easily be fried in a hot pan, where it takes on the same golden surface and lovely texture.
The salad is perfect as a light lunch or dinner, but it also works beautifully as a side for summer barbecues. It is quick to put together, needs only a few ingredients and is one of those salads that impresses with both flavour and colour.
Serve it with a good piece of bread, or enjoy it just as it is. An easy, fresh summer salad that is sure to become a favourite all season long.
Grilled halloumi salad with watermelon, avocado and rocket
Ingredients
- 250 g halloumi or grilling cheese
- 75 g rocket
- 400 g watermelon, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1 avocado, cut into wedges
- 1 handful pistachios, roughly chopped
- Olive oil
Mustard vinaigrette
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method
- Mix the ingredients for the vinaigrette and season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Pat the cheese dry with kitchen paper and cut it into slices just under a centimetre thick.
- Brush the slices with oil and grill them over a good high heat until golden on both sides – about 3 minutes on each side.
- Arrange the salad on a bed of rocket and top with the watermelon, grilled halloumi, cucumber and avocado.
- Scatter the pistachios over the top and drizzle the vinaigrette over. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Premium
Can halloumi be fried in a pan?
Yes, easily. Fry the halloumi in a hot pan for 3-4 minutes on each side, until it is golden and crisp on the outside while still soft and creamy inside. You can also grill it on a hot barbecue if you want that classic chargrilled flavour.
Can the salad be made in advance?
You can prepare most of the ingredients well ahead. Cut the watermelon and cucumber and mix the vinaigrette a couple of hours before serving. Leave cutting the avocado and grilling the halloumi until just before serving, so the salad stays fresh and the cheese is pleasantly warm.
What do you serve with halloumi salad?
The salad is lovely as a light lunch or dinner with a good piece of bread. It also works perfectly as a side for barbecued food, chicken, fish or grilled vegetables, and fits right in on a summer buffet or tapas table.
Can I use grilling cheese instead of halloumi?
Yes, halloumi and grilling cheese can generally be used in the same way in this recipe. Be aware that flavour and texture can vary slightly from brand to brand, but the result will still be delicious.
