Halloumi, Watermelon, and Mint Salad

This is my second salad involving halloumi cheese. I found it on the BBC Good Food website. This salad got mixed, but positive reviews. Chris** loved it. He thought it was just fantastic. I, on the other hand, liked it. There were a lot of interesting flavours, but instead of creating a harmonious marriage of deliciousness, it felt like they were competing and no one really got to shine. I would make my other halloumi salad again before I'd make this one, but I would definitely make this one again. One thing I might try is drying off the watermelon a little (that seems slightly oxymoronic) to make the salad less watery. Here's the recipe:

Halloumi, Watermelon, and Mint Salad
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:
250g package halloumi cheese, thinly sliced
Flesh from 2lb chunk watermelon, sliced
200g fine green beans,
1 small bunch mint, finely shredded
1 lemon, juiced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle

Instructions:
1. Heat grill to high. Grill cheese for 2 minutes on each side until golden.
2. While cheese is cooking, blanch green beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
3. Toss the watermelon, beans and mint together with the lemon juice and olive oil, season well, then layer on plates with the slices of halloumi.
4. Drizzle with a little more oil if desired,
5. Serve with warm pita or naan.


Pairs nicely with a glass of Riesling.

**Happy Birthday Chris!