SMASHED CUCUMBER & HALLOUMI SALAD
A smashed cucumber salad is a delightful and refreshing dish that showcases the crispness of cucumbers with a bit of flair. To make it, you start by selecting fresh cucumbers; the crunchier, the better!
First, the cucumbers are smashed, which helps to release their juices and allows them to soak up the dressing more effectively. This smashing can be done with the side of a knife or by tapping them lightly with a rolling pin. Don't worry; we’re not trying to obliterate them, just give them a good whack!
I have upped it all by making these little star cut out halloumi, which is totally not necessary, just cut into medium slices and follow the recipe as it says, but if you want to go that extra level (like i did for christmas), cut those babies up with a star cookie cutter.
Perfect served as a side dish, this salad is not only easy to prepare but also incredibly versatile.
SMASHED CUCUMBER & HALLOUMI SALAD
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SMASHED CUCUMBER & HALLOUMI SALAD 〰️
Sumac Pickled Red Onion
1 red onion
1/4 cup balamic vinegar
1 tbl sp brown sugar
2 tbl sp sumac
Pinch of salt
Thinly slice red onion. Add onion, balsamic, brown sugar, pinch of salt and sumac into a bowl and massage everything together. Place to the side to pickle.
3 lebanese cucumber
1 small bunch dill (washed, just fronds)
6 mint stalks (washed, just leaves)
6 radishes (washed and thinly sliced)
250gm halloumi
Honey
1 lemon (juice)
EVOO
Salt
Black Pepper
Place cucumbers on chopping board and using a rolling pin or heavy object, smash down onto the cucumber until they smash them until all the sides have cracked and its fallen to pieces. Then cut into chunks. Pop into a sieve, mix with some salt and allow some of the water content to fall out.
Prep by glaze by adding 1/2 lemon juice, equal parts honey and water to the lemon juice in the jar, so equal parts lemon juice, honey and water. Shake really hard until all homogenised. For halloumi cut into medium small pieces. Pop a heavy pan on medium high heat and bring up to temp with a splash of olive oil . Place halloumi pieces down and reduce heat to medium. Don’t move, just allow to char to a golden char and begin to melt in the middle. Flip over and grill the other side to another deep char. When its nearly done, pour the honey lemon glaze and allow to cover and bubble away. Take off heat and mix halloumi through the glaze.
In large bowl add smashed cucumber, dill, mint, radishes, sumac onions and halloumi into large bowl. Dress with a solid glug of EVOO, 1/2 lemon juice, lots of cracked black pepper and season with salt to taste. Mix together and serve.