Halloumi and Pear Salad

your new holiday salad!

By: Eleni Saltas

I take my salads seriously, and this Grilled Halloumi is not messing around. Imagine bites of pears nestled next to creamy, golden grilled halloumi, topped with a scattering of pomegranate seeds, and drizzled in honey balsamic vinaigrette.

The flavors just work: the halloumi is salty and rich, the pears add a fresh, juicy bit and the pomegranate seeds pop with a bright, tart kick that just looks so festive. This salad isn’t here to be a wallflower on the holiday table—it’s the one that’s going to steal the spotlight. It’s bold, it’s balanced, and trust me—it’s going to have people coming back for seconds. Seriously.

Prep Time:

5 min

Total Time:

20 min

Servings:

2 to 4

Good For:

Lunch/Dinner

Ingredients

4 ounces romaine lettuce, washed and chopped (or one large heart of romaine)
2 ounces arugula, washed (or arugula micro greens)!
2 medium pears (Anjou or Bosc), diced
1 cup pomegranate seeds
½ cup roughly chopped walnuts
200g (8 ounces) halloumi cheese, sliced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for grilling halloumi)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the dressing:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Zest of one lemon
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste (I use less here because the arugula has a peppery taste already)

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Slice the halloumi into ½ inch thick pieces, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a skillet and grill in a for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Set aside.

Step 2

Make the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and zest, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Step 3

Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce and arugula. Add the pears, chopped walnuts and pomegranates. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad, ensuring an even coating, reserving some for extra drizzling. Top with the grilled halloumi slices and serve!