When I was a child, my younger sister was the meat-lover of the family. She loved a classic Sunday roast lamb and mint sauce and would always shun the fish fingers or pizza on the child’s menu and push for a steak instead. Which is why the rest of us were absolutely astounded when, as a teenager, her love for animals won out over her love for meat and she announced that she was becoming a vegetarian. This lasted for seven years until finally the smell of bacon cooking became too much to bear and she joined the ranks of the carnivores once again.
As for me, I have a bit of a take-it-or-leave-it attitude towards meat. As a single person, I ate mostly vegetarian and fish-based meals with a little splash of meat here and there. But enter Mr. Scrummy, carnivore extraordinaire, and all that changed very quickly. I do attempt to sneak in some vegetarian meals, however, which sometimes goes down alright and sometimes doesn’t. I recently served up a veggie pasta, for instance, which was subjected to suspicious scrutiny followed by this declaration: ‘Isn’t there some chicken missing from this?’ Certainly when he cooks it’s steak, pork chops or a chicken stir-fry. Man-food if ever there was!
Now to me this minty halloumi & sundried tomato salad is proof, if you needed it, that some dishes just do not need meat. As I created it in my mind, it included a few slices of prosciutto and in fact I bought some to include but ended up peeling them off the salad as it just seemed so completely unnecessary. If you’ve ever tried halloumi cheese (a Cypriot cheese made with a mixture of sheep’s, goat’s & sometimes cow’s milk for anyone who’s interested), you’ll know that you buy it in a sort of log-shaped roll flecked with mint (it was apparently traditionally wrapped in mint leaves to preserve it, according to Mr. Wikipedia). It’s packaged in a little brine like mozzarella balls are, so you dry it off, slice it into one-centimetre or so thick slices and fry it on each side for a few minutes until crispy. The finished result is dense, milky, salty, warm of course and … now this is the best part, in my opinion … a little crispy. All this makes it feel very substantial, which is why I would say that it’s a great alternative to meat.
So this is how this salad was born. I spotted a nice fresh-looking bag of spinach at the supermarket which I decided to coat in a honey-balsamic dressing and arrange first on my two plates.
I then fried my halloumi slices, arranged them over the spinach and scattered on some chopped sundried tomatoes
– a perfect contrast to the salty, milky cheese. I finished my salad off with spoonfuls of Greek yoghurt mixed with mint and a little lemon, a sprinkle of paprika and a few sprigs of mint scattered all over the salad for an extra minty ‘kick’ but also a final decorative touch. I served the salad with my usual toasted Greek pitta bread, but any bread or even a little couscous or quinoa would go well.
Conclusion? For me, this salad is definitely a keeper. I love the mixture of tart, salty, fresh and sweet flavours, and hope you do too if you try it!
So which meals do you make that you feel just don’t need meat? And where do you fall on the meat appreciation scale? Do you find yourself feeling disappointed and wondering where the meat is if you’re served a veggie meal or are you as happy to eat vegetarian as you are meat-based meals? Or maybe you’re a vegetarian, vegan or paleo-only guy or gal? Whichever, feel free to invite me over for dinner because I’d happily accept. Don’t worry, vegetarians, I’ll leave Mr. Scrummy at home.
Minty halloumi & sundried tomato salad with honey-balsamic spinach
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
For the honey-balsamic dressing
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/3 cup olive oil
For the minty yoghurt
- 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt
- 2 tablespoons chopped mint
- 2 good squeezes fresh lemon juice
For the salad
- 3.5 ounces fresh spinach washed & chopped
- 1 ‘log’ of halloumi cheese cut into 1-cm wide slices (8.8 ounces/250 grams)
- 4-5 sundried tomatoes chopped
- a few sprigs of fresh mint & a sprinkle of paprika hot or regular
To serve (optional)
- a slice of lemon & toasted pitta bread
Instructions
- First of all, make the honey-balsamic dressing by whisking together the three ingredients. Toss 3 or 4 tablespoons of it with the washed spinach in a bowl, then turn it out onto two plates.
- Now prepare your minty yoghurt by stirring the mint and lemon into the yoghurt. Set aside.
- Heat up a large skillet/frying pan or griddle pan and dry fry the halloumi slices for a few minutes on each side or until nicely browned. Then arrange them in an overlapping line down the centre of your spinach.
- Sprinkle the sundried tomatoes
over the salad along with the mint sprigs. Quickly dot the salad with spoonfuls of the minty yoghurt and sprinkle with a couple of pinches of paprika. Serve while the halloumi is still warm with a slice of lemon for squeezing over the cheese and some toasted pitta bread if you like. Then enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Helen, I used to always think I was not a chicken or fish lover – but this last month, I gave up both and I must say I have missed them terribly!
I do so enjoy tart, salty, fresh and sweet flavors combined in one meal, so this salad is simply scrumptious to me!
Helen says
Oh, this salad is perfect if you’re going through a veggie phase! Do try it, Shashi, and let me know what you think!
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
This is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! The perfect dinner salad, if you will! I loveeeeeee the crisp brownness of the Haloumi and those sun dried tomatoes!!!!!! *-*. Although I do eat non vegetarian, I louuuuveeeee a good vegetarian meal and this, for one, certainly is! <3
Helen says
Aw, so glad you love this so much, Samina! I aim to please … hehe. Please do have a go at it and let me know what you think. I loved it!
Aimee / WallflowerGirl.co.uk says
I LOVE halloumi and it’s definitely one of those things that fills the “meat void” in a dish. This looks so good!
Helen says
Thanks, Aimee. This one was definitely a keeper! 🙂
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
You are making me miss Greece so much! I loved all the halloumi cheese we had there. This looks like the perfect entree salad for a meatless night. Hearty, healthy, and delicious!
Helen says
I’ve actually only had this for lunch so far, but I think I will consider making it for dinner some time. So glad you approve … but sorry to make you miss Greece so badly. 🙁
Sofia // Papaya Pieces says
This looks delicious Helen! So funny his way of saying I want some meat: is the chicken missing from here? haha
Helen says
Yes, subtle, right? 😉 So glad you like it!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Hehe it’s funny that you say that because my sister is the same. She loves meat and doesn’t really care or like vegetables whereas I like both. Halloumi is a favourite in this household 😀
Helen says
🙂
Monet says
I have never liked meat much, but I’ve grown to appreciate it more as I’ve gotten older. This looks just delicious. Such a wonderful mix of flavors. Thank you for sharing it!
Helen says
So glad you like it and I hope you try it some time. 🙂
lori @ thehealthminded.com says
The Mediterranean diet should not even be called a diet. It is just delicious in every way? This salad with the mint looks like a new favorite. So glad I found your site. I will have fun looking around!
Helen says
Hello, Lori. So glad you found my site, too, and I really hope you do give this salad a go and enjoy it. I’ll definitely be making it again. 🙂
Allison @ Clean Wellness says
What a great idea for a salad. I love the flavour combinations going on here. And I looooove sundried tomatoes. They’re like candy!
Helen says
Hi, Allison, and thanks so much for paying me a visit. So glad you like the salad and … I totally agree about the sundried tomatoes. They certainly add a huge burst of flavour here.
tahnycooks says
It is 7am and I just drooled over this picture! This dish looks so tasty, I love the flavor combos great recipe!
Helen says
Hello, Tahny – what a pretty name you have! Sorry to have made you drool (well, OK then, I’m not sorry at all, I’m actually quite pleased). 🙂
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
This salad looks perfect for the warmer summer months! Or really, anytime. That dressing sounds so delicious, too. Definitely making this one, Helen! 🙂
Helen says
So glad I’ve inspired you to try making this, Alyssa. Please do (and let me know what you think). I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 🙂
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
I’m loving this salad! I’m like you…I could take or leave meat. Once in a while I’ll want it (or chicken).
I’ve never heard of halloumi cheese. I wonder if I’ll find it in my local grocery store. It sounds like I can substitute with mozarella or similar.
Helen says
Yes, you could definitely substitute with another milky white cheese like mozzarella, but I’m hearing that you can buy halloumi in either Wholefoods or Trader Joe’s in the US. I really hope you do find some, Tina. Halloumi is so delicious when you fry it in a pan like I describe.
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Sounds like my hubby. We could never be vegetarians with the man and the 2 boys in the house. It’s like “Give me meat or give me death!”
Well, I can usually sneak one once a week or so.
This is utterly gorgeous! I love sundried tomatoes. I can wait until I fresh to use form the garden.
Have a beautiful weekend Helen!
Helen says
I really hope you have a wonderful weekend, too. So so glad that you like the look of the salad!