Think salads are boring? Think again with this recipe for Peach & Halloumi Salad!
How? Here are my 5 top tips for making salads actually exciting (and easy!)
Don’t be afraid to take shortcuts!
Skip the chopping and the food prep. Purchase pre-prepped items at the grocery store. It might be a little more expensive, but it’s less pricey than food waste. If your produce is ready to go, it makes it even easier to create a salad on the fly. Don’t save the chopping for home, instead buy ingredients that are ready to eat.
My favorite shortcuts: shredded kale, chopped and peeled squash, prewashed greens, and precooked beets!
Add something crunchy
Who doesn’t like a good crunch? Adding roasted seeds, nuts or a delicious breadcrumb can be an exciting and nutritious way to boost up your salad. Want to make your own breadcrumbs? Check out this blog to learn how to make Vegan DIY Dill Pickle Salad Kit with breadcrumbs
My favorite crunchies: tamari roasted almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or everything bagel spice
Spice it up with nutritious dressings.
I love making dressings that are simple yet delicious. Salad dressings need fat, salt, acid, and flavor to take lettuce from blah to BAM! The recipe below uses a simple (read: 2 second) olive oil dressing. If you want to make it exciting and experiment with alternate flavors, check out my cashew based dressing here (link to Dill Pickle Salad)
Add fruit and herbs
What fruits are in season, currently I am loving the peaches at my local farmers market __link to local farmers market here__ . If not peaches, things like watermelon, mango, and fresh berries make for great salad toppers.
Herbs are always a plus. Try basil, parsley, oregano, dill, or cilantro. Alternate your herbs and experiment with them while you discover your favorites.
Don’t forget your protein and fat
Protein and fat are essential parts of a healthy diet, but the sources are very important as well. Personally, I like to toss in plant based proteins to my salads or add an exciting twist with a goat cheese.
Let’s talk about the sneaky surprise within this salad recipe! Halloumi, yuummm.
What is Halloumi?
Halloumi is a Cypriot cheese that is typically made with sheep or goat’s milk.
Halloumi is a good source of several important nutrients, such as protein and calcium. Its exact content of fat and calories varies depending on how you choose to prepare it. One of my favorite things about halloumi is that it has a high melting point. Which makes it perfect for grilling or cooking, as unlike other cheeses, it holds its shape when cooked!
If you would like to learn how to make a delicious honey halloumi recipe, click here.
In the meantime, enjoy this amazing salad and let me know what you think.
Peach & Halloumi Salad
Author: Micah Siva
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Halloumi:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup halloumi, cut into ½ inch cubes
- 2 peaches, cut into 1/8ths
- 4 cups arugula
- 1 cup basil leaves
- ½ cup cucumber, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp pistachios, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Preparation:
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add halloumi, cooking ro 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has browned on all sides. Set aside.
- Combine peaches, arugula, basil, cucumber, and pistachio in a large bowl. Add the halloumi.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.
- Enjoy!