This vibrant halloumi salad with asparagus is a delicious dish for summer. A tasty combination of grilled cheese and vegetables for a low carb salad.
The great thing about this low carb halloumi salad is that is a combination of crunchy, sweet, salty with the peppery taste of the arugula. Who can say no to fried halloumi too? Add it into a salad for a hearty keto vegetarian dish.
What is Halloumi cheese?
Halloumi originates from Cyprus and is semi hard cheese made from a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk. The firm texture keeps when frying or grilling, making it a great cheese for a BBQ or griddle pan. The taste is slightly salty and will develop a deep savoury flavour when grilled.
At 7g protein per 1oz (28g) this cheese is a great low carb choice for vegetarians.
Where to buy halloumi cheese
Halloumi can be found in large supermarkets, Whole Food stores and Middle Eastern food stores. The availability of this cheese may vary from country to country. I used to be able to purchase fresh halloumi cheese when I lived in Dubai (fresh is extra amazing), happily purchased it from larger supermarkets in the UK but can now only purchase it from one shop in St Lucia. It can be expensive if it is imported. We call it the “Pay Day” cheese now!
How to make halloumi asparagus salad
The ingredients for this hearty salad are :
Arugula – I used this lettuce for its peppery taste. Baby spinach leaves would be a good substitute.
Halloumi – Firm fried cheese is the star of this dish. If you cannot purchase halloumi then an alternative cheese to fry would be Queso Blanco or Queso Para Frier.
Asparagus - Use fresh and juicy stalks of asparagus. Bright green and healthy tips.
Grilled Red Pepper - I cheat and used one out of a jar but you could grill a fresh red pepper and remove the charred skin.
Black olives - Make sure that the stones are removed. I used juicy Kalamatas olives.
The halloumi and asparagus are cooked on a cast iron griddle pan, but you could cook them on the barbeque too. Once cooked they are assembled in a salad with layers of arugula, grilled red pepper and juice black olives. Drizzle a simple lime dressing and you have a satisfying salad.
Other keto halloumi recipes
Halloumi, Blueberry & Spinach Salad
Avocado, Strawberry & Halloumi Salad
Broccoli, Halloumi & Tomato Salad
Halloumi Asparagus Salad
Ingredients
- 8.8 oz halloumi cheese
- 1 bunch asparagus about 14 stalks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup arugula
- 2 tablespoons basil, fresh chopped
- ½ grilled red pepper
- 8 black olives
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Mix the Dressing
- In a small bowl, add the olive oil, lime juice, salt & pepper. Lightly whisk.
- Slice the halloumi into pieces lengthways.
- Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a cast iron griddle pan on a medium heat.
- Gently fry the halloumi cheese in the pan for about 2 minutes each side until golden.
- Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Season with asparagus with the salt and pepper then cook on the griddle pan for 3-4 minutes, turning over until slightly soft.
- Place the arugula on a plate and scatter the basil leaves over it.
- Layer the salad by placing the red peppers and olives over the arugula.
- Place the halloumi cheese over the peppers.
- Finally place the asparagus spears over the halloumi.
- Drizzle with the dressing and serve immediately.
Notes
Any nutritional analysis on the website is based on an estimate, calculated by http://nutritiondata.self.com from the individual ingredients in each recipe. Variations may occur for various reasons, including product availability and food preparation. We make no representation or warranty of the accuracy of this information.
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