Browsing Tag:

grill

Lemony Lentil Salad with Roasted Veggies and Fried Halloumi Cheese

May 30, 2018

Let me tell you what led me to the discovery of my new favorite food: lentil salad with roasted veggies and fried cheese. What’s that? A salad with fried cheese on top? Health meets decadence? Virtue meets indulgence?

YES to all of this.

It started when I had exactly 5 minutes to run through the grocery store, with my whole family waiting out in the car, for a quick stop to ‘pick up a few things’ (have you ever been in that situation? My heart pounded thinking about what will happen if they go rogue on my husband). When I walked by the cheese case and saw Halloumi cheese, ‘great for grilling!’ I grabbed it to possibly throw on the grill with our other food without much thought because *rogue children*.

And then I forgot about it.

Days later when I found it in the cheese drawer, I googled recipes to use it up and found one that fried it with honey. I had to try it.

You’ll find out pretty quickly as you assemble this dish that every single ingredient is delicious on its own and you’ll have to stop yourself from eating it. Roasted broccoli and cauliflower? So good.

Lemony garlic lentils cooked with a bay leaf and vegetable stock? Love.

And the final touch that is really more of a religious experience then salad topping: fried Halloumi cheese that is tossed in honey at the end so it becomes caramelized.

If you haven’t cooked with Halloumi before, it is a Greek hard cheese that is sort of like a cross between Manchego and Feta. It is great for grilling, and these recipes by Bobby Flay and the NYTimes both look excellent.

But this recipe, which is adapted from one by Jamie Oliver, opens up a whole new world for me: frying your cheese and finishing it with honey. The sweet-salty bite is one of those tastes that make you want to keep coming back for another taste. 

This dish composes so many elements – salty cheese, sweet honey, crunchy nuts, toothsome lentils, bitter roasted veggies, sour lemon and pungent garlic to make everything else sing. The dressing poured over the hot lentils infuses so much flavor.

Its truly like nothing I’ve ever eaten before.

It’s also a great dish to bring to a party, since you can cook all the different parts ahead of time, and set aside, then assemble all the ingredients before you go. Or just make it for yourself on a Monday night.

Hope you find a way to bring this into your life – you will thank me!

Lemony Lentil Salad with Roasted Veggies and Fried Halloumi Cheese (printer version here):

Ingredients:

4 cups broccoli and cauliflower (I used orange cauliflower)

olive oil

4 cloves of garlic

1 cup lentils

1 litre organic vegetable stock

1 fresh bay leaf

2 lemons

extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup walnuts or sliced almonds

1 large bunch of mixed soft herbs (parsley, mint, chervil)

250 g halloumi cheese (about a cup)

2 tablespoons runny honey

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF.

  2. Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into even-sized florets, then spread out in a single layer in a roasting tray. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt & black pepper.

  3. Toss in the unpeeled cloves of garlic, then spread everything out in the tray and pop in the oven. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the veg is cooked through and charred on the outside.

  4. Pop the lentils in a medium-sized pan, pour over the hot stock and add the bay leaf. Gently bring to the boil over a medium heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they’re cooked but still retain some bite. Drain and set aside.

  5. Make the dressing by squeezing the garlic out of its skin into a bowl. Mash until creamy, then squeeze in the lemon juice and season. Whisk to combine, then add a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

  6. Toast the walnuts or almonds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Pick and chop the herb leaves, then toss with the walnuts and set aside.

  7. Toss the hot lentils through the garlic dressing, followed by the roasted veggies, herbs and nuts.

  8. Pour a lug of olive oil into a medium-sized, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Chop and fry the halloumi until it’s golden.

  9. Drizzle over the honey and fry for 1 more minute, until sticky and caramelized. Scatter the halloumi over the salad and serve immediately.

 

Pork Souvlaki (3 ways)

June 2, 2012

 

Jamie Oliver calls this ‘wicked kebabs’.  I call it heaven. Lemony, zingy, flavorful Pork Souvlaki is crazy good.  I make it with this secret weapon:

1

I am not sure if you can find this in your local grocery store, but if so you must buy it!!!  Basile’s Greek Style Pork Souvlaki Seasoning.

Marinating tender pork with this tangy, lemony greek flavoring is beyond delicious. I dream about it in my sleep. Then once you have the pork cubes ready, the uses of them are endless.

If you can find it, making pork souvlaki is as easy as marinating 2 lbs. of pork tenderloin with:

4 T. of Souvlaki seasoning
juice of 2 lemons
1/4 cup of olive oil

If you can’t find it, follow this recipe I got from allrecipes.com:

  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 4 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 medium yellow onions, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 green bell peppers, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • skewers

 

Marinate for 2-3 hours, then cook the meat on the stovetop:

Then the uses for the meat are so yummy and easy!! 

1. Gyros: 


I also call them Greek Tacos because setting out the fixings is just like tacos. This is one of the best 10 min meals I know of, since it just involves opening these containers while the meat cooks:

      • Pita Bread
      • Olives
      • Tabouleh
      • Hummas
      • Feta
      • Tzatziki Sauce (yougurt with dill and cucumbers). For Ina Garten’s recipe for this click here
      • Cucumbers, Tomatos, Mint, Spinach, Romaine
The low-carb/gluten free version has romaine lettuce instead of a pita.
The kid version has their favorite fixings…..

2. Pork Souvlaki Skewers:  serve over rice pilaf or orzo. Perfect for easy summer entertaining.

  • 2 lbs. marinated meat
  • 2 medium yellow onions, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 green bell peppers, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • skewers

Thread skewers with meat, peppers, and onions. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly brush with oil. Cook for 10-15 until cooked through.

 

3. Orzo Salad with Pork and Feta: another summertime backyard favorite, travels well.

  • 2 lbs. cooked pork marinated in souvlaki and lemons
  • 1 lb package of orzo, cooked and drained according to package
  • 8 oz. of feta, crumbled
  • 1 package of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 jar of drained, pitted kalamata olives
  • 1 cucumber, sliced and quartered
  • 1 bunch green onions, sliced 
  • 1 bottle light Greek or Italian dressing 
  • 2 T mint, chopped (Optional)

Toss all ingredients together and serve hot, room temperature or cold. Enjoy!