Middle Eastern flavors shine in this simply summery zucchini, bell pepper, and halloumi panzanella.

zucchini, bell pepper, and halloumi panzanella

I’m OFFICIALLY officially ready to eat like it’s summer.

That means buying all the zucchini at the store and pretending I harvested them myself and OMG ISN’T IT SO ANNOYING HOW FAST AND ABUNDANTLY THEY GROW?!

(Says everyone, every summer. All the time.)

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That also means Keeping It Simple.

And Keeping It Salad.

And Keeping It SPARKLING.

Basically, taking over my mother’s patio as often as possible without becoming an inconvenience, because OUTDOOR EATING. It’s the new black.

The best part about outdoor eating is really that you can just keep it casual. No one expects you to break out the good China and real silverware to eat on your deck. So long as there is good wine, good food, blue skies, and a warm breeze..everyone is happy.

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I can’t control the weather (though I try!) but I can help you on the food and drink front. Starting with this salad. It’s all fresh flavors and fried cheese bits and crusty bread cubes and the perfect spicy harissa vinaigrette…and KALE.

(To balance out the fried cheese bits. I’m so thoughtful, right?)

Dressed in Middle Eastern spices like lemony sumac and earthy za’atar, it’s also a mouthful of flavor. I love that in a salad.

Then, there’s the WINE! And not just any wine…Gloria Ferrer 2013 Carneros Chardonnay. You know, the good stuff. It’s fruit-forward, exuberant and pretty much perfect for pairing with just about any cuisine. The winery itself opened in 1986 and in the past 5 years alone, it has won over 400 GOLD MEDALS for its wines. That should pretty much speak for itself…but I’ll also say that I couldn’t wait to get home from work every day to pour myself another glass.

Gloria Ferrer is currently hosting a Spring Photo Contest for anyone who wants to #BeGlorious! The theme from June 1st to June 15th is Al Fresco Dining/Entertaining and the winner will win a fun food and dining package! There are more contest themes through July 15th, so if outdoor eating isn’t your jam then it’s totally worth checking out to see if you can swing an entry that will fit for another theme.

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Zucchini, Bell Pepper, and Halloumi Panzanella
 
Middle Eastern flavors shine in this summery zucchini, bell pepper, and halloumi panzanella.
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 loaf Italian bread (about 1 lb), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 8 oz halloumi, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into thin half moons
  • 2 red bell peppers, diced
  • 1 tbsp sumac
  • ½ tsp za'atar
  • 2 tbsp capers, drained
  • 5 oz baby kale
For the dressing
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup harissa
  • 2 tbsp champagne vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 450F.
  2. Arrange bread cubes on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 10 minutes or until crispy and starting to brown. Set aside.
  3. Heat two tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the halloumi to the pan and saute until browned on each side, about 4-5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  4. Heat the remaining two tbsp olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic to the pan and saute for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring frequently.
  5. Add the zucchini slices and bell peppers to the pan along with a pinch of salt, sumac, and za'atar. Saute for 5-6 minutes, or until veggies are softened, stirring frequently. Stir in the capers.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the dressing until well combined.
  7. Toss the veggies with the baby kale and bread slices. Toss with the dressing. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Notes
An Eats Well With Others Original
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bowl

More summer salads:

zucchini with basil, pine nuts and croutons

Zucchini with Basil, Pine Nuts, and Croutons

roasted asparagus zucchini and halloumi salad

Roasted Asparagus, Zucchini, and Halloumi Salad

wheat berry salad with zucchini and mozzarella

Wheat Berry Salad with Zucchini and Mozzarella

From Around the Web:

Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Salad with Basil Oil from MJ and Hungryman

Quinoa Salad with Zucchini, Mint, and Cranberries from Heather Christo

Zucchini Noodle Mason Jar Salad with Farro and Mozzarella from Rachel Cooks

Italian Zucchini Pasta Salad from Hip Foodie Mom

Orzo Salad with Roasted Corn and Zucchini from Floating Kitchen

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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48 Responses to Zucchini, Bell Pepper, and Halloumi Panzanella

  1. I’ve never thought of adding Middle Eastern flavours to a salad – totally stealing that idea. 😉 It looks so delicious!
    And then there’s the halloumi … oh me oh my!

  2. Beth says:

    How do you keep coming up with such amazing recipes? This one is brilliant!

  3. You had me at halloumi! And ha that damn zucchini just grows like crazy… ahem… not at my apartment!

    PS We went to Gloria Ferrer on our first trip to Napa and did a champagne tasting. Such a beautiful winery!!

  4. Deeelicious! I love how creative you are with veggies in season. I’m going to need to try this one, for sure!

  5. I totally want! My garden goodies are doing well and growing and I can’t wait to use them for dishes like this!

    HAPPY TUESDAY!

  6. You make the best salads! I’m going to check out the contest. Thanks for the info!

  7. Our zucchini in the garden get sometimes so huge that we end up using only a 1/3 of the veggie, only to freeze the rest. I can imagine making this with halloumi during harvest time.

  8. Jen says:

    You have some serious talent when it comes to salad! Love how creative you are with all the flavors. This one looks delicious!

  9. I am so in love with this dish. I haven’t had zucchini in a bit. But this is definitely making me want to go to the market today and purchase some. I must try this. Thanks for always inspiring great dishes at my house.

    Kia / The House of KTS
    http://www.houseofkts.com

  10. SallyBR says:

    We tried to grow zucchini several times back in Oklahoma. I won’t bore you with the saga, but let’s say I got ONE. Granted, Phil and I we have black thumbs and can kill mint, but still

    nope, I support the farmers by buying their stuff. They know what they are doing. I will stick to iron transport in bacteria 😉

  11. I must look out for some halloumi! The bread salad looks scrumptious.

  12. mira says:

    Love your creative recipes Joanne! Need to make this asap! 🙂

  13. Lori Rice says:

    It has been forever since I’ve had a good Panzanella salad! This sound so good, especially with the halloumi.

  14. Cailee says:

    Oh yum!!! Panzanella salad is SO Fun!! Perf for a summery BBQ!! Thanks for sharing!!

  15. So jealous of everyone’s zucchini growing stories. I haven’t had much success. So I just buy it – whatever works. Love me a panzanella salad!

  16. I’m having a bit of a thing for zucchini right now too. I must have missed it all winter! And, yes please, to salads for the summer. Love these flavors!

  17. I would’ve eaten this even if you didn’t add any spices to it – though with that sumac and za’atar, it would be so hard to not inhale this!

  18. Bring on the summer food! This looks so good!

  19. Kate says:

    I think it’s funny how we’re always on the same page. We’re having zucchini with dinner tonight. Second time in a week!

  20. OMG yes to ALL of the above, sooooo good!

  21. Love the harissa in the dressing – Joanne – would give it a wonderful blast of heat!

  22. Loving the harissa and champagne vinegar in your dressing + totallly need to get on the halloumi train because I’ve yet to try it but it looks heavenly!

  23. I am so ready to start eating like it is summer. But, where is summer weather? The weather is crazy here at the moment.

    Halloumi is my second favourite cheese (after feta, obviously). I love how squeaky it is.

  24. Halloumi is on my list of foods I want to cook that I’ve never had before! After seeing this, I’m moving it up to the very top of said list (sorry, kohlrahbi!).

  25. Haloumi cheese in a panzanella. Why didn’t I think of that!

  26. Zainab says:

    Oh adding Harissa is such a great idea!!!

  27. I crave salads so much in this warmer weather! This looks delicious!!

  28. Can I just live in this??? Mediterranean anything just screams my name. And You know I am addicted to halloumi, right? Just admit it, you secretly made this just to make me all huuuuungry haha

  29. Now this is my kind of salad! We’re picking up our first CSA share of the year tomorrow (yay!) and I think I’ll have most of the ingredients to make this beautiful thing (yay part 2)!

  30. Christine says:

    Absolutely delicious looking. You design such nummy salads! It’s been ages since I’ve had any zucchini!

  31. Reeni says:

    You had me at zucchini and then again with fried cheese! I want to eat this on a patio and maybe even swim in it and make it all mine.

  32. Liz says:

    I love panzanella and I’m SO glad I don’t have to wait on garden tomatoes to make this winner!!!

  33. Yes, I could see myself sitting on a patio with this salad and a glass of wine. Sounds delicious.

  34. Yum!! I feel like I am never ready for the summer, salad-wise. This should do it!

  35. Izzy says:

    I love seeing different variations of panzanella salad and yours looks awesome, Joanne!! I’ve never grown my own zucchini before, but I have heard they can get pretty big! Maybe I should start this year, although I’m not sure how big they would get down here in the desert! Either way, this salad looks so good!

  36. Kelly says:

    Totally agree! Bring on all the summer veggies! Love all the yummy goodies you packed into this panzanella salad! It looks incredible and I love the halloumi in here!

  37. Joanne you have out done yourself here! I just love panzanella and the halloumi in here has me seriously swooning. And I totally laughed at your zucchini comment. Yup, that is what everyone says. And what I’m going to pretend to say too even though I don’t have a garden this year. Ha ha ha! XO

  38. Johanna GGG says:

    panzanella with haloumi! I am sold already – and I love dining al fresco when it is a balmy summer’s day – sounds lovely

  39. I love halloumi! I need to pair salad with wine WAY more often 😉

  40. Eileen says:

    Yes please! Salad and wine is the perfect meal for the beginning of June. Now if it were only the weekend, so I could sit on the back lawn in a pair of huge sunglasses and sip delights all afternoon long…

  41. This sounds so gooooood!!
    Love everything in this salad- bravo!

  42. Food just tastes better when you are eating it outdoors! Love this salad and all of the flavors!

  43. This is perfect summer eating 🙂

  44. Kate says:

    You know that I still haven’t grilled halloumi yet?! I love you and your panzanellas, Joanne!

  45. elly says:

    Added to the hope-to-make-soon list for sure. So, this weekend I made zucchini/summers quash/eggplant with zaatar vinaigrette and my older kid literally had 4 helpings. I’m preeeeetty sure that adding cheese AND bread to something similar might push it to 6.

  46. I would be a very happy girl if I’d get to eat this salad for the summer! <3 All the flavors and the tang and the deliciousness, oh my God, drool alert! <3

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