Name: Simple Mediterranean Avocado Salad with Halloumi
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 large Roma tomato, diced; 1/2 seedless English cucumber (hot house cucumber), diced; 1 shallot, sliced; 2 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced, and tossed in fresh lemon juice to avoid browning; 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, more to your liking; 3 to 4 oz halloumi cheese, optional, cut into small cubes; 10-15 basil leaves, gathered together and thinly sliced (chiffonade); Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil (only if using halloumi); 1 lemon, zested and juiced; 1/4 cup Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 1/2 tsp za'atar spice, more to sprinkle; Salt and pepper

Description

Simple avocado salad, prepared Mediterranean-style with cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, and other Mediterranean favorites! Tossed in a tasty garlic vinaigrette with a generous pinch of Za'atar!

Ingredients

Scale

2 large Roma tomato, diced
1/2 seedless English cucumber (hot house cucumber), diced
1 shallot, sliced
2 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced, and tossed in fresh lemon juice to avoid browning
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, more to your liking
3 to 4 oz halloumi cheese, optional, cut into small cubes
10-15 basil leaves, gathered together and thinly sliced (chiffonade)
Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil (only if using halloumi)

For Vinaigrette

1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 tsp za'atar spice, more to sprinkle
Salt and pepper

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Instructions

Prepare the vinaigrette. Place vinaigrette ingredients in a mason jar, cover tightly and shake until well-combined. Set aside for now (you'll want to give the vinaigrette another shake before using).
In a salad bowl, add all the salad ingredients except the halloumi cheese and basil. Pour the vinaigrette and give the salad a gentle toss. Taste and adjust seasoning, add a sprinkle more of za'tar spice. Add the basil, and give one very quick and gentle toss.
If adding halloumi cheese. Combine cheese cubes and about 1 to 2 tbsp or so extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl. Toss to coat the cheese with the EVOO. Heat an indoor griddle over medium heat. Add cheese cubes and grill for 2-3 minutes, turning over on all sides, until lightly browned and nice char marks appear (it should be crisp on the outside and nice and melty on the inside).
Add the grilled Halloumi to the salad and serve immediately.

Notes

Recommended for this recipe: Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives. And from our all-natural spice collection, Za'atar, an exceptional spice blend with Mediterranean wild thyme and toasted sesame seeds.
SAVE! Try our Greek extra virgin olive oil bundle and our Ultimate Mediterranean Spice Bundle! Create your own 6-pack or 3-pack from our all-natural and organic spice collections!

Prep Time: 15 mins
Category: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean