5 from 9 votes

Panzanella Salad with Halloumi

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Cheese and bread salad? Hell yes. This halloumi panzanella is fresh & vibrant, taking your salad game to the next level.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
£1.01
Makes: 4
mains, Salad
Italian

Table of Contents

  1. Why this recipe works
  2. Ingredients
  3. How to make this recipe
  4. FAQ
  5. How to meal prep this recipe
  6. Recipe Variations

Why this recipe works

Who doesn’t love a carby salad?! This vibrant summery dish is perfect when served as a main or alternatively as a side at a BBQ or party. It’s so quick and easy to make and offers a nice switch to your regular leaf-based salad. Afterall, the combination of 1) a bread salad and 2) a halloumi salad, is destined to be a winner. The Panzanella Salad originates from Tuscany, with the primary ingredients being: bread, tomatoes and onion. I love the simplicity of the salad, with the minimal ingredients coming together to form something fresh, vibrant and indulgent (whilst still being healthy). It will take just 10 minutes to whip up and costs only £1.01 per portion so you can impress the crowds without breaking the bank.

Close up of Halloumi Panzanella salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, browned halloumi and ciabatta bread pieces.

Ingredients

Halloumi

This tangy & salty greek cheese is always a great addition to any recipe. But with this panzanella salad in particular, the bread/cheese combo when stirred into the the foundation of fresh veggies, is something magical. I’ve opted for low-fat halloumi here as we already have the mix of oils used for frying the bread/halloumi and for dressing the salad. So I wanted to be wary of adding more fat into the recipe.

Ciabatta rolls 

Any stale bread can work here but ciabatta is definitely the best. I love the holey structure of ciabatta and when it’s stale and fried, it crisps up like no other.

Cucumber 

A perfect fresh veggie to add to add bulk and brightness to the salad.

Red onion

You could use white or red but I love the colour and flavour that red onion adds to this panzanella salad.

Cherry Tomatoes

I find that cherry tomatoes are sweeter and tangier than regular tomatoes, so that’s why I chose them for this salad. I also think that as this is a halloumi & bread salad, we want more of a contrast to the other ingredients which regular salad tomatoes might not provide.

Red wine vinegar, Extra-virgin olive oil, Rapeseed oil

Red wine vinegar adds a nice acidity to balance out all the flavourful fats in this recipe. We want to use extra-virgin olive oil for the dressing as we wont be heating the dressing. Rapeseed oil has a higher smoke point so we use this when frying the bread and halloumi.

Ingredients to make Halloumi panzanella salad laid out on a pale blue background and labelled.

How to make this recipe

Start by frying the halloumi slices in rapeseed oil (1 tsp to start) in a non stick frying pan. Once golden brown on both sides set aside.

Golden brown halloumi slices in a black frying pan on a stove on an orange background.

Using the same pan, fry the ciabatta chunks, along with a coating of rapeseed oil (around 2 tbsp). Fry on a medium heat unitl golden brown and crispy. Set aside to cool with the halloumi.

Browned ciabatta pieces in frying pan in stove on an orange background.

Mix the sliced cucumber, red onion and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl with red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil.

A glass bowl with a salad of tomatoes, cucumber and red onion, a plate with golden browned halloumi and a bowl of browned ciabatta pieces.

Then add the golden brown halloumi slices and the crispy bread chunks. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

All the Panzanella Salad ingredients in large glass bowl on an orange background.

Other halloumi recipes you should try out after this recipe…

Halloumi Tray Bake with Roasted Vegetables

Sweet Chilli Halloumi Wrap 

Spicy Tomato Rice Topped with Halloumi and Coriander

FAQ

What is a panzanella salad?

The Panzanella Salad originates from Tuscany, with the primary ingredients being: bread, tomatoes and onion.

How long will it keep?

When the dressing has been incorporated into the salad, it’s best served immediately as we want to enjoy the bread and halloumi at it’s crispiest.

What shall I serve this with?

I created this recipe and serving sizes with the thought that it would be a main dish. But you could definitely serve it as a side and pair it with some grilled meats/bbq foods.

Other salad recipes you should try …

Vegetarian Halloumi Caesar Salad

Healthy Tortellini Pasta Salad

Budget Green Goddess Salad (Viral Tiktok Recipe)

All the Panzanella Salad ingredients in large glass bowl on a pale blue background.

How to meal prep this recipe

To meal prep, keep all of the components of the salad separately, especially the dressing. Then assemble the salad when you’re ready to eat. The prepped ingredients will stay fresh for 4/5 days, but the bread will reduce in crispiness the longer you leave it. If you wanted ensure that this wouldn’t be an issue, you could fry a serving of bread on the day you’re going to eat it.

Love meal prep?  This recipe belongs to one of my exclusive weekly meal plans found in The Budget Club. Click here to check out what we have to offer!

Close up of Halloumi Panzanella salad in a glass bowl with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, browned halloumi and ciabatta bread pieces.

Panzanella Salad with Halloumi

Print Pin It
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
£1.01
mains, Salad
Italian
Servings: 4
Cheese and bread salad? Hell yes. This halloumi panzanella is fresh & vibrant, taking your salad game to the next level.

Ingredients

  • 225 g (1 block) low fat halloumi, thinly sliced into squares (£1.75)
  • 2 stale ciabatta rolls (around 180g), sliced into large cubes (£0.69)
  • 1 cucumber, sliced into half moons (£0.43)
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced (£0.58/3)=(£0.20)
  • 500 g cherry tomatoes, sliced in half (£0.48x2)=(£0.98)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp + 2 tbsp rapeseed oil

Method

  • In a non-stick frying pan, start by frying the halloumi in rapeseed oil (1 tsp to start) until golden brown on both sides. Set aside.
  • To the same pan, add the ciabatta chunks along with a coating of rapeseed oil (2 tbsp). Fry on a medium heat until golden brown and crispy. Set aside to cool with the halloumi.
  • Mix the sliced cucumber, red onion and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl with red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil. To that, add the crispy bread chunks and halloumi. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

Notes

  • Choose the right bread, choose stale bread, which absorbs the dressing and juices from the tomatoes. Use a rustic bread like ciabatta or sourdough, cut into cubes or torn into pieces.
  • Fry the halloumi for a couple of minutes on each side until it develops a golden crust. Halloumi doesn't melt like other cheeses, so it holds its shape well when grilled.
  • Use ripe cherry tomatoes as they will greatly impact the flavor of the salad. 
  • To prevent the bread from becoming too soggy, assemble the salad just before serving.

Nutrition

Servings: 4 servings
Fat: 18g
Calories: 438kcal
Carbohydrates: 31g
Protein: 7g
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Recipe Variations

Increased Portion
Serve 3 portions instead of 4
Nutritional info per serving: 584cal |Carbs: 41g | Fats: 24g |Protein: 10g

Decreased Portion
Serve 5 portions instead of 4
Nutritional info per serving:  350kcal |Carbs:24g | Fats:15g |Protein:6g

Vegan
Replace the halloumi with Violife – Vegan Cheese Block (Halloumi – Wedge Grill Mediterranean) (200g)
Nutritional info per serving:  452kcal |Carbs: 36g | Fats: 33g |Protein: 7g

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