Roasted Asparagus Salad with Fried Halloumi and Fresh Tomatoes
Easy roasted asparagus salad recipe with tomatoes, basil, and a light sherry vinaigrette! Keep it vegan, or add your favorite cheese like fried halloumi, feta cheese, or shaved Parmesan.
Get ready. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet large enough to hold the asparagus in a single layer in a thin layer of olive oil.
Season and roast the asparagus. Add the asparagus spears onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Spread so they’re in a single layer. Roast in the hot oven until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, make the sherry vinaigrette. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sherry vinegar with the olive oil, garlic, sumac (if using). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the grape tomatoes and cheese (if using) and toss to combine.
Fry the halloumi (optional): Cut the halloumi into 1/4-inch thick squares. Heat a big glug of olive oil in large skillet over medium. Fry the halloumi in batches until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
Finish and serve. Add the grape tomatoes and fried halloumi (if using) to the bowl with the sherry vinaigrette and toss to combine. Assemble the roasted asparagus on a serving platter and top with the tomato and cheese mixture. Finish with the basil leaves. Enjoy!
To substitute the halloumi: Use feta or parmesan but do not fry or toss with the sherry vinaigrette. Simply crumble the feta or shave the parmesan right on top just before serving.