Mediterranean Salad
Prepare this entree salad in a flash. Make this Mediterranean Salad recipe vegetarian-friendly, with grilled Halloumi cheese, or omnivore-friendly with roasted chicken. Both versions feature juicy colourful tomatoes, salty olives, fresh basil, and big handfuls of vibrant greens. I created this salad to pair with my Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing, but it would also be delicious with a simple balsamic vinaigrette.
Servings serving
Calories 243 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 6 small tomatoes
- 6 olives
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil
- olive oil, optional
For vegetarians
- 2 ounces halloumi cheese
For omnivores
- 3 ounces chicken breast, cooked
For serving
- 1 tablespoon
R oasted Red Pepper Dressing - salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the greens, halve or quarter the tomatoes, and pit the olives if desired.
- If you are making the vegetarian version, heat a heavy pan, slice the halloumi into thin slices and grill over medium heat until the halloumi starts to get a bit browned and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Optionally, toss the greens with a little bit of olive oil, just so they are very lightly coated. Assemble the greens, tomatoes, olives, and fresh basil and your choice of halloumi or chicken.Serve with Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing.
Notes
Ingredient Ideas, Substitutions, and Additions
You can use any kind of olives you like. I've made this with garlic-stuffed black olives and totally loved that flavour combination and the extra texture from the slightly crunchy garlic. If you are not crazy about olives, you can leave them out, perhaps replace them with a couple of sun-dried tomatoes. Cucumber slices would also make a great addition. If you're making the Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing to go with this and you have extra roasted peppers, throw them on too.Vegan Halloumi
I have tried this version of tofu Halloumi and I thought it was quite good. I left out the dried mint - it sounds delicious but I didn't think it would pair well in this recipe. Also, I don't have a waffle iron or sandwich press, so I just used a grill pan for the tofu and pressed it into the pan using a heavy cast iron pan on top.Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is an estimate only, based on using Halloumi cheese, and without any dressing.Nutrition
Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1079mg | Potassium: 350mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1965IU | Vitamin C: 30.9mg | Calcium: 590mg | Iron: 0.8mg