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I should be double fisting handfuls of kale this morning whilst handcuffing myself to a treadmill because yes. It was that kind of weekend.

In a true display of inauspicious circumstances, fate placed the NYC food blogger bake sale, a friend’s bridal shower, and Greek Easter all in the same 48 hour time span.

My skinny jeans didn’t stand a chance.

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So now you understand why, between all the baking, stress-eating about the baking, stress-eating about spending over 24 hours straight with The.Boy’s family, and actual eating I did, there is yet another salad gracing this here blog.

Are you tired of them yet? Tell the truth. Me and my now roly poly self can take it.

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But the fun thing about this here salad is that, while it is totally chock full of vegetables with a side of virtue….it is also topped with fried cheese.

Which makes you feel just the slightest bit guilty about eating it.

And which of course makes you want it all the more.

It’s a bad boy alright, but if it helps you get through this Monday with just a few more vegetables under your belt, then I’d say it’s worth the minor indulgence as you ease yourself back into health.

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Roasted Asparagus, Zucchini and Halloumi Salad
Serves 4, adapted from Ottolenghi

Ingredients

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 5 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 lb asparagus
  • 2 zucchini
  • 4 oz halloumi, cut into 8 slices
  • 5 oz arugula
  • coarse sea salt and black pepper
  • 2 garlic clove, chopped
  • 50 g basil leaves
  • 1 cup millet

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 400.
  2. Toss the tomatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roast for 40-50 minutes or until semi-dried, stirring every ten minutes.
  3. Trim the ends off of the asparagus. Slice the zucchini very thinly lengthwise using a mandoline or a vegetable peeler. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and some salt and pepper. Place the two veggies on a parchment lined baking sheet and put in the oven, roasting for 15-20 minutes or until tender and starting to brown.
  4. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick pan. Fry the halloumi for 2-3 minutes on each side or until it is golden. Place on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
  5. To make the basil oil, combine the garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, and basil in a food processor until smooth. Add in water as needed to give it more of a dressing-like consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  6. Bring 2 cups salted water to a boil in a medium pan. Add in the millet and simmer, covered for 20 minutes or until water has evaporated. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
  7. Place a handful of arugula in each bowl. Spread the millet, veggies, and halloumi evenly among the dishes. Drizzle with the basil oil and serve.

This is my submission to this week’s IHCC as well as to Souper Sunday, which is hosted by Deb of Kahakai Kitchen!

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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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79 Responses to Roasted Asparagus, Zucchini and Halloumi Salad

  1. I’ve never had halloumi, am I totally missing out?? I love the idea of fried cheese though, what’s not to love about that 🙂

  2. Audra says:

    I LOVE halloumi cheese all crisp and fried- this salad looks amazing! I hope your friend’s shower went well! 🙂

  3. Pam says:

    The cheese. It’s all about the cheese.

  4. Don’t stop with the salads! It is just the thing I need right now… spring produce may finally come to me yet. 🙂

  5. I’ve been wanting to try haloumi, and you’ve finally convinced me!

  6. Amy says:

    I don’t even think I own my skinny jeans anymore. They were always taunting me. Like fried cheese.

  7. I love adding roasted veges to my salads. And the cheese – yum!

  8. I had that kind of WEEK! Moving to Montreal is awesome and all, but whoa restaurants! This salad looks fab. I love halloumi!

  9. Ooooh, what a fun salad! I would LOVE this for my lunch today!

  10. bellini says:

    Throw in some halloumi and I would eat anything at all!!!!!

  11. SallyBR says:

    Millet! That’s what it was… I kept trying to figure it out from the photo. A quinoa on steroids? Albino bulgur?

    Love this type of salad – I’ve never cooked halloumi at home, only enjoyed it at Greek restaurants. I would be afraid of making a royal mess in the grill, but maybe this cheese is harder than I think 😉

    (hope the boy is keeping his weight where he wants it to be…)

  12. That halloumi looks crazy good! You browned it to absolute perfection!!

  13. marie says:

    I never tire of salads, they’re honestly one of my favorite things. Which is good because I happen to also love baked goods a whole bunch 🙂

    Here’s hoping all the greens help the skinny jean situation.

  14. look at the crispiness of that halloumi!
    Now this is what should top all salads!

  15. Ugh, that CHEESE. I’d eat anything if it was topped with that fried cheese. 😉

  16. Had halloumi for the first time on trip to Seattle a few years ago – salad looks awesome!

  17. Sammie says:

    Oh boy this salad looks so sumptuous! I must say Joanne, I really take my hats off to you for having such great time management skills! I seriously don’t know how you can blog so much when you’re soooo busy with so many obligations and events going on at the same time! Good job! You’re such an inspiration!

  18. This sounds amazing, Joanne. I love the bright photos!

  19. I totally had that kind of weekend too…lots of eating out…and donuts…and I made cookies yesterday (oops?). Time for kale smoothies and salads this week! I always love the grains + salad greens combo…or else I would be hungry in like an hour again.

  20. What did you say? I didn’t hear anything past “Halloumi”… ;P

  21. Pam says:

    It sound like a tasty weekend!

    The salad looks unique and delicious – love the fried cheese on top!

  22. Dixya says:

    I have never had halloumi before so this is a perfect excuse to get some indulges in, of course with veggies 😉

  23. Abby says:

    Bring on the salads! I’ve gotta try the cheese on top!

  24. I’ve never heard of halloumi, but how can anyone go wrong with fried cheese on top of salad?

  25. That looks delish Joanne – those cripsy halloumi edges are calling my name!

  26. Jessie says:

    You had me long before “fried cheese”, but that little addition was the icing on the … salad? I’m definitely not tired of salads yet, and I’d love to try this one! Isn’t it crazy how events seems to congregate together? I hope those 24 hours went well 🙂

  27. This sounds amazing. I could use some salad in my life after this past weekend too.

  28. Ashley says:

    I LOVE halloumi. And I love the idea of throwing fried cheese on (anything) a salad. This looks great!

  29. Lora says:

    Cheese always makes everything better. Lovely salad.

  30. Lisa Eirene says:

    I’ve never heard of that but it looks amazing! Now I want fried cheese!

  31. Double fisting kale, I know the feeling! Haha. I’ve never tried halloumi, but clearly that needs to change immediately. Those crispy cheesy edges are calling my name! My stomach just rumbled.

  32. haha, every salad should have fried cheese on it, no? 🙂

  33. Ashley Bee says:

    I know what you mean… Cinco De Mayo Weekend = so many tacos and margaritas. I feel like I need a detox cleanse or at least a million green leafy veggies…

  34. Lynn says:

    The fried cheese thing actually made my stomach just growl out loud. 🙂

  35. Johanna says:

    You and I both girl, you and I both. Sometimes I feel like that’s EVERY weekend for me… but this weekend I’ve had a particularly unhealthy dose of frozen margaritas and Mexican grub. Oh well! This salad looks delicious!

  36. Gloria Baker says:

    really Joanne you NEVER bore mr with your salads really I enjoy especially if theu have adparagus and zucchini I love both:)
    this look delicious!:)

  37. Mira says:

    Ooooh, this looks delicious! I love salad recipes….. especially when they are so wonderfully seasonal (mmm, springtime asparagus!) and of course, when they are topped with cheese 🙂

  38. This salad looks super!!! We had a very naughty weekend of eating, too, so meals like this are certainly in order!!! P.S. I just (stupidly) realized we’re both NYC – we should totally hang out haha!! xx

  39. The salad looks wonderful! The fried cheese of course adds to the deliciousness 🙂 Skinny jeans are overrated right?! 😉

  40. OohLookBel says:

    I often make this dish, and I love it (especially the haloumi). Great how you added millet to it.

  41. Beth says:

    Joanne, I’ll never get tired of your salad recipes! (Don’t tell anyone, but I think I like your savory recipes even better than your sweets. And that’s a lot!)

  42. Hotly Spiced says:

    I thought that was quinoa but it’s millet. I went out last night to the launch of Lorraine’s book, Not Quite Nigella and one of the chefs grilled halloumi and served it was poached figs on top – so delicious xx

  43. G’day! I never cooked with halloumi before, TRUE!
    Might have to put the ingredient on my list to do! Thank you! GREAT salad!
    Cheers!
    Joanne
    What’s On The List?
    http://www.whatsonthelist.net

  44. I want to jump into the computer and eat this! I LOVE halloumi cheese but can hardly ever find it! your salad is a sensation!
    Mary x

  45. Mmm fried cheese – I like the sound of that!

  46. Revathi says:

    Perfect salad…the fried cheese makes me drooling

  47. I say keep the salads coming, I start craving them more and more as the weather gets nicer! And I love the halloumi on this – a halloumi salad was on my list of things to make all last summer but I never got around to it. This year I must!

  48. Monet says:

    Smile. It sounds like you had a good weekend, my friend! All worth it, I think! And as for those skinny jeans…mine are gone (and probably for good!) This salad looks delicious. I just love halloumi cheese. So good! Thank you for sharing!

  49. I’m giving the middle finger to skinny jeans everywhere! Don’t get me wrong, I love all the salad recipes on here, but skinny jeans have never been my friend! You are a rockstar and good food and sweatpants are a match made in heaven!

  50. That Girl says:

    I haven’t used halloumi in a while, but just thinking of it’s salty cheesy goodness makes my mouth water.

  51. this salad looks incredible! your photography really is gorgeous Joanne! i’ve never had halloumi cheese before, definitely need to change that!

  52. Sometimes we just need those weekends where our skinny jeans hate us! But glad that you’re sharing this salad because my skinny jeans are getting a bit tight. I’ve never had halloumi before but I think I need to try it soon!

  53. You have just described most of my weekends and every Monday!

  54. Sounds like an awesome weekend! And this salad looks pretty fabulous.

  55. I’ll eat anything topped with halloumi, seriously.

  56. Johanna GGG says:

    you can never have enough salads and one with fried cheese on top is sure to please both of us eating it (nothing will please sylvia!) – sounds delicious and much more enjoyable than fistfuls of kale

  57. Halloumi! Never have I ever heard of this. I am not tired of these delicious kinds of recipes, keep them coming please! Combined with baking you are covering all of the important food groups 🙂

  58. I love halloumi! I bought a block last week and fried it up with a pomegranate and walnut salad (with rocket, blood orange, pomegranate molasses and mint). So, so yummy. I always try and eat it straight out of the pan for maximum melt-factor!! Love this recipe. Yum!

  59. Geni says:

    That fried cheese looks so devilish but the salad so angelic. It’s an oxymoron of a salad Joanne but a delicious looking one.

  60. Katerina says:

    Halloumi is one of the most delicious cheese and fried is even better! Lovely salad! How was your Greek Easter? Did you enjoy it?

  61. Cathleen says:

    I saw the cheese and I swear, there was drool all over my keyboard. This looks too good!

  62. Colynn O says:

    Omg yum! I’m generally only a fan of salads when there’s a bit of guilt involved. This looks delectable! I want it…right now.

  63. Fried cheese makes any salad better!

  64. Honey says:

    oh my this looks delicious. love fried cheese, kinda looks like haloumi cheese.

  65. Eileen says:

    Who could possibly get tired of salads? Especially when they’re topped with oozing halloumi! 🙂 But seriously, I am always all about a salad, and love seeing all the different veg combinations you come up with. I say yea!

  66. This looks like an awesome salad! I’ve actually never had halloumi cheese — I need to find some because it looks delicious!

  67. Oh my gah you fried the cheese.

  68. Reeni Pisano says:

    I’m all about salads lately! Topping this with that golden brown cheese makes this totally irresistible!

  69. Kevin Lynch says:

    I like the spring vegetable and grilled halloumi combo in this salad!

  70. Wow, that was a whirlwind weekend! What a great way to gently ease your way back into those skinny jeans 🙂 Delicious salad!

  71. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    This is a gorgeous salad! It looks so fresh, I love it 🙂

  72. elly says:

    Oh man. Halloumi, how I love thee. I miss dairy a lot but this post reeeeeeeeeeeally makes me miss it.

  73. This salad looks amazing. Of course you had me at Halloumi 😉 and I love the zucchini and roasted asparagus combo. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week!

  74. Asparagus is hands down my favourite vegetable, and roasting it is always my preferred method of cooking it. Top it off with a bit of fried cheese and I’m hooked. Love it, and thanks for sharing at IHCC.

  75. I just ADORE halloumi. Now that it’s summer, i need to remember to grill it!

  76. FRIED CHEEEEESE! No finer words have ever been uttered

  77. Laura says:

    I LIKE the way you think! 😀 And yes I am this behind!

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