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Halloumi Salad with Quinoa And Spinach

Halloumi Salad with Spinach, Quinoa, and Herbed Hemp Dressing | @naturallyella

This halloumi salad combines the healthy power of quinoa and spinach with fried halloumi cheese and a creamy hemp dressing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 ounces halloumi (cut into 8 thin slices)
  • 2 cups shredded spinach
  • 1/2 ripe avocado (diced)
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup hulled hemp seeds
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons fresh herbs: chives, parsley, dill
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. In a small pot, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce to a low simmer, cover, and let cook for 15 minutes or until water is almost absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  2. While quinoa is cooking, combine ingredients for the dressing in a (high-powered) blender and run for 30 seconds, until the dressing begins to smooth. Pour into a container and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve salad.
  3. In a skillet or grill pan over medium-low heat, add olive and add halloumi. Fry until browning and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cut halloumi into small pieces.
  4. Assemble the salad. Combine shredded spinach, onion, halloumi, avocado, and cooked quinoa. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the dressing over the salad and toss until well combined. Add more dressing as desired.

Notes

Tips & Tricks: If you do not have a high-powdered blender, let the hemp seeds soak in water for about an hour before blending.

If you can't find halloumi, some stores sell a generic 'frying cheese' that can work in place of halloumi.

Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: Quinoa, Halloumi, Hemp Seeds

Nutrition: get the information.