Grilled Halloumi Pesto Plate (Printable)

Golden grilled halloumi atop fresh vegetables drizzled with bright basil pesto. A perfect vegetarian Mediterranean delight.

# Ingredient list:

→ Cheese

01 - 7 oz halloumi cheese, sliced 0.4 inch thick

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 medium cucumber, sliced
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup baby arugula or mixed greens

→ Basil Pesto

06 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
07 - 2 tbsp pine nuts (or walnuts)
08 - 1 garlic clove
09 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1/2 tsp lemon juice
12 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Lemon wedges

# How-to:

01 - Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat.
02 - Pat halloumi slices dry with paper towels. Grill for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown with grill marks. Set aside.
03 - Combine basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Arrange arugula or mixed greens on two plates. Top with cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
05 - Top vegetables with grilled halloumi. Drizzle generously with basil pesto. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Light and refreshing Mediterranean flavors
  • Quick and easy to prepare in under 30 minutes
02 -
  • Halloumi cheese grills well due to its high melting point.
  • You can substitute pine nuts with walnuts or almonds in the pesto for a different flavor.
03 -
  • Dry the halloumi slices well before grilling to get perfect grill marks.
  • Adjust the consistency of pesto by adding olive oil as needed for smoother drizzling.
Return