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3 Comments Halloumi is one of those cheeses that I cannot get enough of. It’s a bit different from ‘normal’ cheese in the sense that it is more heat resistant. So the fun thing about halloumi is that you can grill or bake it and it will still hold it’s shape.
Freekeh salad with halloumi
I even made my own halloumi once a rather long time ago and while the proces was a bit long and tedious, in the end it was definitely worth it. Now I am not suggesting you to make halloumi from scratch. In fact it has become more easily available, compared to those first couple of years that it was no where to be found. These days you can easily find it in most supermarkets. But back to this freekeh salad with halloumi.
What is freekeh
Freekeh is a kind of wheat and has a slightly different and more nutty flavor. It is also sometimes called firik or farik and is basically roasted green wheat. It has a good bite and I love using it in salads. But if you cannot find freekeh it’s also easy to replace with quinoa, rice or something like couscous. With the latter I do think the texture of the salad will be very different but it is an option. I’ve used freekeh before in this apple and beetroot salad with freekeh and in this freekeh salad with courgette.
Dressing
Initially I made the dressing for this salad with basil oil and tomato vinegar which where two products we sold at one time from our own market stall. Those days have long gone though but I think you should be able to find at least basil oil. Not sure about tomato vinegar, but if you cannot find one or both of them it is easy to replace with extra virgin olive oil and a good vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a good bet when making the dressing for the freekeh salad with halloumi!
Freekeh salad with halloumi, tomatoes and arugula
Ingredients
- 125 gram freekeh
- 150 gram cherry tomatoes
- 100 gram halloumi
- arugula
- optional: basil leaves
Dressing
- 1 tbsp basil oil or good extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp tomato vinegar apple cider vinegar is a good replacement
How to make the freekeh salad
- Cook the freekeh according to the instructions on the package. Drain, leave to cool.
- Cut the tomatoes into quarters and the halloumi into cubes
- Heat oil in a pan and bake the halloumi or use griddle and bake the halloumi without oil
- Leave to drain on kitchen paper
- Add all ingredients together, shake and sprinkle with the basil oil and vinegar
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
I have yet to play with freekeh — really need to, ’cause all the cool kids are. 😉 This looks great — thanks.
You’re missing out on the fun John! I love freekeh! (and cause I like to say ‘freakey’ 🙂
Tasty! I have just recently discovered fresh and I love this grain. So unique…
Cheers,
Rosa