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A deliciously fresh halloumi and quinoa salad with all the colours of the rainbow! Herby and zesty, topped with avocado, mango and halloumi cheese, this salad has everything!
I’m growing to love salad more and more as the years go on. To be honest I’m not a huge lettuce fan, I mean I’ll eat it but I wouldn’t really choose to put a bunch of leaves on the side of a meal, unless they have some good flavour of their own.
But salads like this, I can get RIGHT on board with. All the flavours of the herbs are blended together and mixed with the quinoa base and woken up with a spritz of fresh lime, by now you must know that lime is one of my favourite things ever!
This salad is adapted from one of my absolute favourite books, Jamie Oliver’s 15 minute meals. I have to say though, I consider myself to be a cook of a fairly decent skill level, but I have NEVER been able to make one of his meals in 15 minutes. However, the recipes are SO good, I’m willing to let that slide ;)
The original version of this salad uses grilled chicken as the main topping, so I’ve subbed halloumi cheese instead to make a vegetarian version.
I’ve made this salad so many times, friends, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Multi-Coloured Halloumi and Quinoa Salad
Serves 4
A deliciously fresh quinoa salad with all the colours of the rainbow! Herby and zesty, topped with avocado, mango and Halloumi cheese, this salad has everything!
Recipe Adapted from Jamie Oliver
Ingredients: Quinoa
300g Quinoa
1 medium Red Chilli, deseeded and deveined,
4 Spring Onions,
1 bunch Fresh Coriander,
1 bunch Fresh Mint,
100g Baby Spinach,
Squeeze Fresh Lime Juice,
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil.
Ingredients: Salad Toppings
1 Red Pepper,
1 Orange Pepper,
2 Teaspoons Smoked Paprika,
1/2 a Ripe Mango,
1 Avocado,
250g Halloumi Cheese,
1 Punnet Cress,
4 Tablespoons Natural Yoghurt.
Steps:
1. Cook the quinoa in a large pot of boiling water for 10-15 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water. In a food processor, blitz the herbs for the quinoa with the spinach, chilli and spring onions until everythign is finely chopped. Mix the mixture with the quinoa, olive oil and lime juice in a large bowl and place on a large serving platter.
2. Cut the peppers into strips and toss with the smoked paprika. Fry on a medium heat for 5-10 minutes until soft.
3. Cut the halloumi cheese into 1/4 inch thick slices and fry until golden brown on both sides.
4. Top the salad with the peppers, halloumi, chopped mango, avocado, cress and natural yoghurt.
Serve immediately: Salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Best eaten on the day it is made
About Lauren Caris
Lauren is the author and chef of the vegan food blog, Lauren Caris Cooks. She is passionate about showing people just how awesome vegan food can be with simple, delicious recipes and vegan lifestyle tips.
Wow, this salad looks amazing! Although I think chefs often stretch (or shrink, I should say) the truth about how long things take, I’m so glad when the results turn out well. It’s the mango that really interests me in this salad. I can’t wait to try it.
Haha definitely! Maybe it does take Jamie Oliver only 15 minutes… but the result is worth it even though it’s about double that for me! The mango adds such a delicious and surprising sweetness, I think that combined with the saltiness of the halloumi is really what makes it special.
Thanks for the lovely comment – let me know when you’ve made it!
So colorful and tempting recipe and the pictures are simply awesome. :)
Thanks Puja! Glad you like it!
I absolutely love the recipes in Jamie’s 15 Minute Meal but I agree – they always take me much longer! I guess he doesn’t have to worry about cleaning up as he cooks.. he has someone to do it for him!
This looks delicious – I’m definitely saving it to make when the weather warms up a bit!
I wouldn’t say no to someone doing all the cleaning up for me haha!
Great! Hope you enjoy it!
This looks so yummy and healthy! I’m definitely trying this! x
Ariadna || RAWR BOWS
Thanks Ariadna! Hope you like it!