Gluten Free Quinoa & Halloumi Salad

Our guest blogger and Katrina Lander @fitnessfodmap_ guest edits this blog post for Cole & Mason.

 

Alfresco dining is one of my favorite things about the summer months! I absolutely love hosting and this dish makes for a perfect side for a BBQ. It's light, refreshing and apart from grilling the halloumi, can be made in advance.


Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 4 to 5


Ingredients
  • 120g Quinoa

  • 200g Cucumber, quartered and sliced

  • 150g Mixed vine tomatoes, quartered

  • 30g Pitted black kalamata olives

  • Small bunch flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

  • Juice 1 lemon

  • 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

  • 150g Halloumi, cut into 6 slices

Instructions
  • Cook the quinoa as per the pack instructions, leave to cool.

  • Toss the cucumber, tomatoes, olives, ¾ of the chopped parsley along with the lemon and extra-virgin olive oil, season with salt. Once cooled mix in the quinoa. If you're making this ahead pop the mixture into the fridge and leave step 3 until ready to serve.

  • When ready to serve, fire up the BBQ to a medium heat, grill the halloumi both sides until browned (around ¾ minutes each side). Place on top of the quinoa salad and garnish with the remainder parsley.


Pro Tips
  • If there is a fresh herb you enjoy more than others, or have hanging around, swap it out for the parsley.

  • I particularly love this salad paired with warm pita bread and grilled chicken.