Peach, Cherry and Halloumi Salad

Peach, Cherry and Halloumi Salad! This vibrant salad is perfect for summer. Fresh produce, grilled halloumi cheese, quinoa, pecans and a balsamic vinegar. Vegetarian & Gluten-free. 

This is what evolution looks like:

This salad started off as grilled peaches and halloumi kebobs with basil-oil dressing. Until most of the halloumi fell off the kebobs into the grill…

Then, the basil oil got tossed with day-old bread cubes and made into basil croutons! And eaten with tons of peaches, lettuce and leftover grilled halloumi. Similar to panzanella, but not quite.

So, I added some quinoa. Because, it’s 2016 and my motto tends to be “put some quinoa on it”.

Then, I was too lazy to do anything but slice a few peaches and fry up some cheese, which turned out to be my favorite version of this meal: baby kale, cherries, peaches, grilled halloumi and a touch of balsamic vinegar.

The moral of the story, of course, is that there are endless ways to enjoy these flavor combos. Juicy peaches, tart cherries, salty, hot cheese, fresh greens and a touch of basil and balsamic. You really can’t go wrong, whichever version you choose.

It’s almost like a choose your own adventure book- you get to decide what you are feeling. Want more heft? Go with both the quinoa and basil crouton option. Want a meal that’s ready in 9 minutes flat? Choose the simple salad in option 4. It’s have it your way for the health-conscious crowd.

I’ve included a basic outline for this recipe, but feel free to mix and match however you see fit. The non-negotiables are the peaches, cherries, halloumi and either basil oil or balsamic vinegar. Or, more simply put, the peaches and the halloumi. They are a match made in heaven, and one I will continue to pair all season long.

When we were in North Carolina a few weeks ago, I was in peach overdrive. We stopped at a small farmer’s market off 158 on the way into town ( my family’s been stopping at Grandy’s Greenhouse before vacation for as along as I can remember) to pick up a few bushels of tree-ripened peaches.

Gah. There is nothing like a juicy, sweet summer peach. Nothing. I would happily forgo peaches all year long for just a bite or two of those peaches. The best. I hope you find something similar for this kind of salad, because like most produce-heavy dishes, it makes it.

After I ate all that I could at the beach (at least 3-4 a day), I took the rest home with me to Virginia for my family to indulge in life’s little pleasures. The only thing that tops those fresh peaches is watching my three year old niece’s eyes light up when she took her first bite. Yes, sweet child, you know.

So, peaches on the brain, I came back to St. Louis ready to cook! Halloumi is one of those foods that I really do love, but often forget that it’s there. After seeing it on display at Whole Food’s last week, I grabbed a package and set off to make countless versions of this dish.

If you haven’t had halloumi before, it’s like if mozzerella and feta cheese had a baby. Similar in texture and strength to fresh mozzerella, with the tang and saltiness of feta cheese. And- you get to fry it! It’s OK without being fried, but don’t skip that step. Heating the cheese creates the most incredible crust with a soft, stretchy middle. Yum.

So, to recap. The meal must include the peaches, halloumi and preferably cherries and some type of dressing. After that, the rest is up to you. I’ve included a few options in the hodge-podge recipe below, but go with what sounds best to you in the moment.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

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