HALLOUMI PASTA SALAD

Halloumi salad

We have been having fab weather in Ireland which means several things: holiday atmosphere prevails and eating salad is less of a chore. We're going on a picnic today with our County Offaly friends so I made a halloumi pasta salad to bring. I sampled it (natch) and it's delicious. And a really fast and simple make. I love the chargrilled halloumi in The Cedar Tree in Dublin (I dream about it) but I had a salad like this at a friend's house a couple of years ago and have been planning to make it since. At last I get around to it.

Salad ready to go to the picnic :)

If you haven't yet tried Aldi's Margaret's Loaf, please do
- award-winning, seeded, real brown bread

INGREDIENTS

300g fusilli (or whatever pasta you like)
120g halloumi
10 basil leaves, chopped
10 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 garlic clove, chopped very small
olive oil (a glug for the pasta)
salt (to season pasta & finished salad)
pepper
veg oil (for frying the halloumi)

METHOD

- Cook the pasta for about 10 minutes (until it's al dente), adding the glug of olive oil and a pinch of salt at the start
- While the pasta is on, cut the halloumi into 1cm thick slices and fry on a medium heat for about 2 mins each side (it may go golden)
- Let the halloumi cool on two sheets of of kitchen roll, pat excess oil off
- Drain the pasta and leave to cool
- When the pasta is cold, mix through the quartered tomatoes, chopped basil and garlic
- Cut the halloumi pieces into quarters and mix though the pasta
- Season with salt and pepper and mix through
- Serve with green leaves, bean salad, buttered Margaret's Loaf, red wine or anything you fancy.

Summer on a plate :)

3 BEAN & BASIL SALAD

Three Bean and Basil Salad

More salad, seeing as I promised. I am having this one with dinner. The last time I made it I added flaked almonds (because I had them) but there are none in the press today. The almonds make a nice crunch and should be added just before serving.

INGREDIENTS - serves 2

450g tin of mixed beans (mine was cannellini, flageolet and adzuki)
quarter red pepper, finely chopped
half small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
a few basil leaves, torn up small
1 tbsp of flaked almonds (optional)

METHOD
Rinse the beans in cold water and drain
Bung them into a bowl and mix everything else in
If using flaked almonds, add before serving and mix through - doneski!