Looking for a tasty and easy weeknight meal?! This Lemon Herb Quinoa with Fried Halloumi Cheese is a bright and flavorful dish that is gluten-free, vegetarian, and quick to whip up.
I first discovered halloumi cheese a few months ago at a restaurant and it forever changed me. I heard about it for years but for some reason, never desired to try it or make it. But WOW was I missing out. This is lightly fried in some olive oil and can be a great addition to any meal or salad.
What is Halloumi Cheese?
Halloumi cheese is made from goat’s and/or sheep’s milk on the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. It’s a white, layered cheese, similar to mozzarella. It is a semi-firm and brined cheese with a slightly spongy texture that has a tangy and salty Halloumi flavor. Halloumi can be eaten raw, but due to its high melting point, it’s an ideal cheese for grilling or frying.
In this dish, I wanted to create something light and hearty and something perfect to make for Spring and Summer. Since it’s no secret I have a great love obsession with lemon and herbs, I knew I had to somehow incorporate that into this dish. Enter the lemon and herb quinoa salad.
A deliciously bright and flavorful salad that is served on top of an avocado spread. Then, topped with a perfectly seasoned roasted broccolini and toasted almonds. Add the halloumi cheese right on top and YES…you’ll be thanking me later (I hope LOL). It’s just layers and layers of awesomeness.
Make Ahead
You can absolutely make the quinoa salad the night before or early morning. Plus, cook it once and eat it the entire week for lunch or dinner. Quinoa will not get soggy. Just brighten it back up with a little drizzle of lemon.
I like to pair this dish with my Garlic and Thyme Roasted Tomatoes.
Ingredients
- quinoa
- vegetable broth or water
- herbs and lots of it. I used dill, chives, basil, mint, parsley
- lemon
- almonds (optional)
- halloumi cheese
- avocado
- yogurt
- broccolini or broccoli
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There you have it, simple, easy, and delicious. So perfect for a weeknight meal. If you try this recipe, let me know what you think by commenting below.
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Xo,
Natalie
Lemon Herb Quinoa with Fried Halloumi Cheese
Lemon Herb Quinoa with Fried Halloumi Cheese
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups quinoa
- 2.5 cups vegetable broth or water
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 lemon zested
- 1 lemon juiced, plus another 1/2 lemon for the broccolini
- 1 broccolini bunch
- Large handful of herbs: basil mint, dill, and parsley, rough chopped
- 1 package of halloumi cheese
- 6 tbsp olive oil divided
- 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
- salt and pepper to taste
- AVOCADO SAUCE
- 1/2 cup plain coconut yogurt
- 1/2 avocado
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp minced chives
- 1 tbsp minced basil
- 1 tbsp mint
- 1 garlic clove rough chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- In a mini food processor, add in all the ingredients for the avocado sauce. Blend until smooth and set aside.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, add the broccolini, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and 1.5 tbsp olive oil. Mix and bake for about 15 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, add in 1 tbsp of olive oil. Next, add in the quinoa and shallot and toast for about 3-4 minutes. Add in the broth or water and cook according to the package or until all the liquid is absorbed. Allow the quinoa to sit for 5-10 minutes without mixing.
- Then, fluff the quinoa with a fork. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, the lemon zest, 1 lemon, juiced, and the handful of roughly chopped herbs, salt, and pepper. Adjust the flavors as needed. Set aside.
- In a non-stick skillet, add in 1.5 tbsp olive oil. Slice the halloumi cheese into even slices and fry the cheese for about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet to a towel-lined plate.
- To Assemble: on a plate, add a schmear of the avocado sauce. Top it with the quinoa herbs. Then top it off with the broccolini, halloumi cheese, and toasted sliced almonds. Serve and enjoy!
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