When thinking of making a vegetarian Caesar salad recipe, I thought it would be super hard to replace the powerful flavour of parmesan. That was until I remembered my favourite cheese – Halloumi. Like parmesan, halloumi is salty and strong so I knew with this substitute there would be no lack of flavour. The creamy, lemony, garlicy caesar dressing pairs perfectly with this halloumi salad, balancing out the intense, salty flavours of the halloumi. Now vegetarians can enjoy the best type of salad!
The Caesar dressing is stripped back using standard cupboard ingredients/ common foods that you’ll have laying around. It’s made with only 5 ingredients, so you get loads of flavour with minimal costs & effort!
I’ve chosen reduced-fat halloumi, as I find that the texture and taste is very similar, so it enables us to enjoy more cheese per portion whilst keeping the calories down.
Hellman’s mayo is obviously my go to here, no other brand competes in my opinion. I find the flavour of low-fat may isn’t as great and as the mayo is a huge element of the Caesar dressing, we don’t want to compromise on flavour.
A nice contrast against the creamy vegetarian Caesar dressing.
Not traditional, but I love the sweetness and the burst of flavour that these tomatoes add to the halloumi salad. It adds brightness to a recipe that is quite rich.
When minced and combined with salt and some pressure, we get the best garlic paste to flavour our Caesar dressing.
You could also substitute with Dijon mustard, however I love the taste, texture and look of wholegrain.
How can I make this recipe for meal prep?
Yes you can! Simply prepare the ingredients (slice the lettuce/tomatoes, fry the halloumi, make the dressing) and store the elements of the salad in separate containers. We don’t want to combine the ingredients with the dressing ahead of time or the lettuce will turn soggy.
Can I use full-fat halloumi?
Of course! I’ve just opted for low-fat to keep the calories down whilst having lots of cheese for each portion.
Can I use low-fat mayonnaise?
You sure can. I find the flavour to be quite different which is why I’ve opted for full-fat.
Other Halloumi recipes
The Best Toast Ever: Halloumi and Avocado Sourdough Toast
Other salad recipes
Panzanella Salad with Halloumi
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