Description
Refreshing nectarine and chickpea salad with halloumi showcases Mediterranean flavors in a delightful summer dish. Crisp ingredients blend seamlessly, offering a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and salty notes you’ll savor with each bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 nectarines (quartered, peeled if desired)
- 8–10 slices halloumi
- 1 can chickpeas (265 g / 9.3 oz drained weight)
- 10 cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 drizzle olive oil
- Fresh basil (to taste)
- 1 tsp paprika
- Pinch fleur de sel
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 190°C (374°F), creating an optimal roasting environment for chickpeas and tomatoes.
- Spice and Roast Chickpeas: Coat chickpeas with olive oil and paprika, then scatter cherry tomatoes in the same dish. Drizzle with additional olive oil and sprinkle fleur de sel, roasting for 12 minutes until ingredients caramelize and develop intense flavors.
- Fruit and Cheese Grilling: In a skillet over medium-high heat, grill nectarine quarters for 1-2 minutes per side to create caramelized marks. Use the same skillet to grill halloumi slices until golden and crispy, approximately 1 minute per side.
- Salad Assembly: Artfully arrange roasted chickpeas, caramelized tomatoes, grilled nectarine quarters, and golden halloumi slices on a serving plate.
- Final Touches: Enhance the dish by drizzling fresh lemon juice, cracking black pepper, and garnishing with torn fresh basil leaves to elevate the flavor profile and visual appeal.
Notes
- Optimize Chickpea Roasting: Ensure even coating with oil and paprika by using hands to massage spices thoroughly, preventing dry spots and guaranteeing maximum flavor absorption.
- Master Nectarine Grilling: Select ripe but firm nectarines to prevent mushy texture; high heat creates perfect caramelized marks without breaking down fruit’s delicate structure.
- Halloumi Cooking Technique: Remove halloumi from packaging and pat dry before grilling to achieve crispy golden exterior; watch carefully as cheese can burn quickly due to high protein content.
- Flavor Balance Strategy: Fresh lemon juice and basil add bright, zesty notes that cut through the richness of grilled halloumi and caramelized chickpeas, creating a harmonious taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting, Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg