Description
A fresh and vibrant salad featuring grilled zucchini and halloumi cheese combined with sweet baby peas, fresh mint, and a zesty Dijon and lemon dressing. This dish offers a delightful contrast of smoky, salty, and tangy flavors, perfect for a light lunch or as a side for grilled meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Dressing
- 40 ml olive oil
- 40 ml lemon juice
- 20 gm Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt flakes
- 4 grinds black pepper
Salad
- 700 gm zucchini, cut into rounds
- 250 gm baby peas
- 200 gm halloumi, cut into pieces
- 1 bunch mint, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt flakes, and black pepper until well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare zucchini and halloumi: Toss the sliced zucchini rounds and halloumi pieces with half of the prepared dressing, ensuring each piece is well coated.
- Grill zucchini and halloumi: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the zucchini and halloumi until grill marks appear and they are lightly charred, about 3-4 minutes per side for zucchini and shorter for halloumi until golden and slightly softened.
- Cook peas: While grilling, briefly cook the baby peas in boiling water for 1-2 minutes until tender but still vibrant green. Drain immediately and cool under cold water to retain color and texture.
- Combine and serve: In a large bowl, mix the grilled zucchini, grilled halloumi, cooked peas, chopped mint, and the remaining dressing. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Halloumi is a firm cheese that grills well without melting, adding a salty, smoky dimension to the salad.
- Using fresh mint brightens the dish; substitute with parsley if necessary.
- Peas can be frozen or fresh; just adjust cooking times accordingly.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be prepared a few hours ahead and refrigerated, keeping grilled ingredients separate until serving.
- For a vegan version, substitute halloumi with grilled tofu or a plant-based cheese alternative.
