Fresh, zesty and low on carbs, this tasty Mexican halloumi salad recipe makes a brilliant light vegetarian meal. It's quick to prepare too so perfect for busy lunches or a light dinner.
This Mexican halloumi salad is a great vegetarian meal for days when I want something filling but still healthy. The chopped vegetables in the salad along with the lime and coriander in the dressing mean that it tastes really fresh and and looks very colourful on the plate too. After all, colourful meals are so much more appetising than plain ones.
Prepare the vegetables for this Mexican Halloumi Salad in advance!
I am a huge fan of batch cooking and preparing big salads in advance so I can then use them in more than one meal. With this halloumi salad I like to make a really big batch of the tomato, cucumber and pepper salad and then keep it in the fridge. It keeps well for at least 2 days and is great with other meals. I love it as side dish with fish and chicken too.
Cook the halloumi just before you serve it!
Just don't prepare the halloumi in advance. The halloumi is best as soon as it comes out of the grill or frying pan. It soon begins to firm up again so you really do need to eat it quickly.
How to cook halloumi
For a long time I always cooked the halloumi in a dry frying pan but sometimes it sticks and can be difficult to clean so recently I've preferred to grill (broil) it. I oil a small piece of aluminium foil and then place the slices on it and put them under the grill. After a couple of minutes I turn them over to brown the other side too. Some liquid will come out of the halloumi as it cooks but don't worry about it, it'll soon evaporate.
The inspiration for this Mexican halloumi salad
I originally got the inspiration for this recipe from Nigella Express. However, only the halloumi and the lime juice remained in my version. I love spicy citrusy flavours and we've eaten this salad many many times for lunch and dinner.
Why Mexican Style?
Well, the chopped vegetable salad, the lime juice and the chilli just make me think of Mexican food. It's not meant to be authentic in any way, just a really really tasty Mexican inspired salad. By the way, if you like Mexican food then do check out my chipotle lime chicken recipe!
Can you adapt this Mexican Halloumi Salad?
Of course this easy halloumi salad can be adapted. You can vary the salad vegetables to suit your tastes. Sometimes I like to add a little chopped red onion or spring onion. Some sweetcorn also goes very well.
I love the sharpness of the lime in the salad dressing but you can substitute it for lemon. You can also vary the herbs that you use. You could even add a little spice. A pinch of paprika goes very well in this.
If you want to make this halloumi salad into a more filling salad you can add some form of carb. Tortilla chips go very well or you could wrap the whole salad in a soft tortilla.
Another way of bulking out this salad is to add some beans. I think black beans go brilliantly as they are the right size plus they just look good against the other ingredients.
Mexican Halloumi Salad Recipe
Recipe
Halloumi Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tomatoes
- ½ yellow pepper
- ½ red pepper
- 10 cm cucumber
- black pepper
- Pinch salt optional
- garlic salt
- 100 g spinach leaves
- 200 g halloumi
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 lime juiced
- 2 tablespoon flavourless oil
- 1 chilli pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander (cilantro)
Instructions
- Chop the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers into equal sized chunks. Season with a little salt and pepper and mix together.
- Make the dressing. Squeeze the lime and finely chop the chilli. I like heat so I leave the seeds in but you can deseed it if you want. Put these ingredients plus the oil and dried coriander into a bowl and mix well. Taste and adjust as necessary.
- Slice the cheese, approximately 1cm thick. Heat a dry frying pan and put the slices in the pan. After a couple of minutes turn the cheese and cook until it is browned on each side. Remove and place in the bowl with the dressing. Alternatively you can grill the halloumi instead of dry frying it.
- Put a handful of spinach on each plate and divide the chopped salad between the plates. Top each plate with 3-4 slices of the halloumi. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the top.
Notes
Nutrition
More Tasty Salad Recipes
Here are just a few of the salad recipes here on Searching for Spice. Let me know if you try any!
Or how about beetroot and goats cheese salad?
I love salads and even have a whole recipe collection for main course salad recipes. Do check it out if you're looking for inspiration!
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Places I'm sharing this Mexican inspired halloumi salad
Cook Blog Share hosted by Eb at Easy Peasy Foodie
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This looks so fresh and delicious, a perfect lunch. I completely agree about cooking the halloumi just before eating but love that you can prepare the rest in advance.
Corina Blum
Thanks! Whenever I make this I have to make sure my husband is ready to eat before it's ready - I hate it when the halloumi goes hard again!
Arnab Saha
Halloumi is so good in salads. This salad looks wonderful. It’s easy to prepare and so perfect for busy lunches, that’s why I like it. I also like vegetarian meal.
Corina Blum
Thanks Arnab! That's exactly why I like this salad too.
Baguio Restaurants by Mae
Halloumi Salad looks very delicious, perfect for those who are in a diet. Vegetables plus cheese what a perfect combination. Can't wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Corina Blum
I'm so pleased you like it Mae!
Mayuri Patel
I seriously cannot take my eyes off the scrumptious salad. Such a wonderful way to enjoy halloumi (which I adore) along with a flavorful salad.
Corina Blum
Halloumi is so good in salads, isn't it? I'm starting to eat a lot of salads now spring is coming too and this one is such an easy one to prepare.
Balvinder
This salad looks wonderful, Corina! I love Halloumi and have tried in restaurants but I’ve never seen it in any of my local grocery stores.
Corina Blum
That's a shame! I hope one of them starts selling it soon.
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
Such a lovely, fresh sounding salad and my favourite "squeaky cheese" lol. I absolutely adore halloumi and here it transforms a light salad into more substantial meal. Delicious!
Corina Blum
Thanks Jo! We love "squeaky cheese" and I like the fact that it keeps for quite a while after you buy it so it's a useful item to always have in the fridge for last minute meals too.
Beth Neels
I love to have salads for dinner! And anything with fried cheese is a winner! Can't wait to try this delicious salad!
Corina Blum
Thanks Beth! We eat a lot of salads too - I find they're so easy to prepare mainly in advance which definitely makes it easier in our house.
Louise Fairweather
good tips - I will try grilling next time #cookblogshare
Corina Blum
Sometimes I find it sticks to the pan when I fry it so I have started to grill it instead usually.
Hannah
I love halloumi so much! I usually pair it with sweet chilli sauce, but I absolutely have to try it now! #cookblogshare
Corina Blum
Yum! It's great with sweet chilli isn't it? I love the sweet and salty combo.
Susan @ Simply Sundays
I've never actually tried halloumi and this sounds delicious! I have to try it! Thanks for sharing
Corina Blum
Oh yes, definitely try halloumi! It's so good when it's cooked and really great in salads or on the barbecue.
Caroline
I do love halloumi, it's such a flavorful cheese and so quick to prepare. This salad looks so bright and fresh.
Corina Blum
Thanks Caroline! Halloumi is a great cheese, isn't it and so good in salads.
Lesli Schwartz
As a cheese freak I will definitely be making this salad! Looks so fresh and inviting!
Corina Blum
I'm so glad you like it Lesli! We love halloumi and it makes such an easy meal.
Piedro
I discovered halloumi a few years ago as I moved to Cyprus, never heard of it before. But straight away I fell in love with that delicious cheese that is so versatile and gives its special note to so many dishes. Very often we try new halloumi recipes and there is not one week since then, that we won't have at least one meal with halloumi, not to speak abou BBQs, where having halloumi is a must.
Piedro
What an awesome recipe. I just love halloumi since I moved to Cyprus some years ago and I am always looking for new variations to prepare. Thank you for sharing such a yummy recipe.
searchingforspice
I'm glad you like it. I visited Cyprus a year ago and loved the food there.
Piedro
The food in Cyprus is really delicious, especially the fresh fish in all these fish tavernas. Did you try a fish meze?
searchingforspice
no, not a fish meze but I did have meze. It's a great way to eat.
Piedro
So you have something to look forward to for your next visit.