Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
Easy Keto Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad is the ultimate summer dish, combining crispy grilled halloumi with juicy watermelon for an explosion of flavors. After making this salad dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the halloumi crispy is to grill it just until the edges are golden. Start by grilling the halloumi, then move on to the rest of the ingredients. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Sugar Free Blueberry Syrup for Italian Cream Soda and Easy Mushroom Spinach Lasagna Recipe for Dinner.
Why This Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy grilled halloumi cheese
- Juicy watermelon for a refreshing twist
- Easy to make and perfect for summer cookouts
- Keto-friendly and low in carbs
What You'll Need for Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Halloumi cheese
- Watermelon
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Optional: Pine nuts
- Optional: Feta cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Halloumi cheese: Make sure to slice the halloumi into 1/2-inch thick slices.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron grill pan — Even heat distribution for perfect grill marks → See on Amazon
- Sharp kitchen knife — Clean cuts for even slicing → See on Amazon
How to Make Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
- Step 1: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Grill the halloumi slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden and crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Step 3: Cut the watermelon into 1-inch cubes and slice the red onion thinly.
- Step 4: In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, red onion, and fresh mint leaves.
- Step 5: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the watermelon mixture and toss to combine.
- Step 6: To serve, arrange the grilled halloumi slices on a platter and spoon the watermelon salad over the top. Garnish with pine nuts and feta cheese (if using).
Cook's Tips for Perfect Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
- Common mistake and fix: Overcooking the halloumi can make it rubbery. To prevent this, grill it just until the edges are golden and remove it from the heat.
- Substitution tip: If you can't find halloumi, you can substitute it with feta or paneer cheese.
- Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the watermelon salad up to a day in advance. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. The halloumi is best grilled just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the watermelon salad up to a day in advance.
Freezing Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
Not recommended for this recipe.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not necessary for this recipe. Microwave: Not recommended for this recipe.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes to the dressing.
- Best substitution: If you can't find halloumi, substitute it with feta or paneer cheese.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the watermelon salad up to a day in advance. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. The halloumi is best grilled just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the halloumi is not crispy, try grilling it for a longer period or at a higher temperature.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality grill pan — Even heat distribution for perfect grilled halloumi → Check price on Amazon
Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Halloumi cheese
- Watermelon
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Pine nuts
- Feta cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Grill the halloumi slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden and crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Step 3: Cut the watermelon into 1-inch cubes and slice the red onion thinly.
- Step 4: In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, red onion, and fresh mint leaves.
- Step 5: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Pour the dressing over the watermelon mixture and toss to combine.
- Step 6: To serve, arrange the grilled halloumi slices on a platter and spoon the watermelon salad over the top. Garnish with pine nuts and feta cheese (if using).
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add some red pepper flakes to the dressing.
- Best substitution: If you can't find halloumi, substitute it with feta or paneer cheese.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the watermelon salad up to a day in advance. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. The halloumi is best grilled just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the halloumi is not crispy, try grilling it for a longer period or at a higher temperature.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for this recipe.
- Oven reheat: Not necessary for this recipe.
- Microwave reheat: Not recommended for this recipe.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the watermelon salad up to a day in advance.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 270
- Protein: 16g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 65mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the watermelon salad up to a day in advance. However, the halloumi is best grilled just before serving.
Overcooking the halloumi can make it rubbery. To prevent this, grill it just until the edges are golden and remove it from the heat.
No, it's not recommended to freeze this salad as the watermelon and halloumi will not maintain their texture.
Yes, you can make the halloumi in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cook the halloumi slices for 5-7 minutes on each side, until golden and crispy.
Yes, this salad is perfect for summer cookouts as it combines crispy grilled halloumi with juicy watermelon for a refreshing and satisfying dish.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Best Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Summer Salad and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
