Pumpkin, Halloumi and Avocado Salad

It's hard to play favourites with recipes, but if I *had* to, this Pumpkin, Halloumi and Avocado salad wins.  And given that it's been the most popular recipe on the blog since I first posted in over a year ago, it seems to be your favourite too.

This doesn't really surprise me. Whether you're an avid salad eater or a notorious salad avoider, this is the salad for you.

It's filled with three of the most universally loved ingredients.

It's really easy to prepare with minimal hands-on time.

AND it's a salad that you can really get excited about.

I know what you're thinking right now - how exactly can I get excited about a salad?  By putting halloumi cheese in it of course!

WHAT IS HALLOUMI?

Halloumi is a salty cheese from Cyprus that is made commonly from either cow's milk or a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk.  It has a high melting point which allows it to be pan-fried or even deep fried.  Although it can be eaten raw, it is most commonly enjoyed cooked.

WHERE TO FIND HALLOUMI?

Halloumi generally comes in prepacked blocks.  In Australia, NZ and the UK, halloumi is found in all major supermarkets.  In America it can generally be found in Whole Foods and Trader Joes.  If you are struggling to find it, you can always try a Mediterranean or Middle Eastern deli.

HOW TO COOK HALLOUMI?

Halloumi can be cooked in many ways, including pan-fried, grilled, barbecued and baked.  I opt for pan-fried halloumi when making this salad.  It's quick and easy:

1. Cut the halloumi into slices 1cm thick.
2. Heat a dash of oil in a frying pan on medium heat
3. Place slices in pan with a little space in between.
4. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until brown and slightly crispy, then turn and cook the other side.

If you want to cook the halloumi on a BBQ, I've listed full instructions and photo guides in my How To Cook Halloumi post.  It also has some great meal ideas for using up any leftover halloumi.

PUMPKIN, HALLOUMI AND AVOCADO SALAD INGREDIENTS:

When I said this salad was easy to put together I wasn't joking.  Aside from possibly tracking down a block of halloumi I bet you have most of these ingredients already.

• Roasted Pumpkin - any good roasting pumpkin or squash would work for this recipe.
• Halloumi
• Avocado
• Lettuce
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Salt + Pepper

Throw it all together in a bowl and dig in!

TOP TIP:  Meal prep some roasted pumpkin at the start of the week and you'll have this salad on the table each night in ten minutes flat.

This recipe uses half a standard block of halloumi.  Find easy ways to use the rest of the block by looking through these 11 Delicious Halloumi Recipes!

MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE

• • Roast Pumpkin and Chickpea Salad
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  • Mango Avocado Salad
  • Roasted Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta Salad
  • Crunchy Kale Salad with Lemon Tamari Dressing
  • Roasted Sweet Potato, Avocado and Feta Salad
  • 35 Easy and Yummy Salad Recipes
  • Salmon Poke Bowl
  • Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

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