Freekeh and Halloumi Salad with Pesto Dressing
Photography by Sarah Tuck.
I love the nubbly texture of freekeh, but you can easily substitute with cooked brown rice or couscous.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
300 grams freekeh, washed
2 eggplants, sliced into
1 cm wide rounds
4 zucchini, angle sliced
⅓ cup olive oil
1 cup semi-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 cup mint leaves
|1 cup basil leaves
200 grams halloumi, sliced into 1cm thick slices
½ cup lightly toasted pine nuts
Pesto dressing
2 cups fresh basil leaves
⅓ cup grated parmesan
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup pine nuts
1 large clove garlic, peeled
sea salt and black pepper
METHOD
Pesto dressing: Throw everything in a blender and whiz until as smooth as you like. Keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for 4–5 days. Just before serving thin with 2–3 teaspoons water.
Put the freekeh in a pot with 500ml of water. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook, covered for 15–20 minutes until the water has been mostly absorbed and the freekeh is cooked through. Drain in a sieve.
While the freekeh is cooking heat a large hot plate or grill. Brush eggplant slices with ¼ cup of oil and cook 1–2 minutes each side.
Put 2 tablespoons of oil in a bowl and toss zucchini slices in it so they are lightly coated. Cook in a medium frying pan or grill plate for 1 minute each side.
Toss the cooked freekeh with half of the pesto dressing and most of the herbs, semi-dried tomatoes and pine nuts (reserve a few leaves, tomatoes and nuts for garnish).
Brush the pan or hot plate with a little more oil and cook the halloumi 2–3 minutes each side until golden.
Spoon freekeh on to serving plates (or platter) and layer with the eggplant and zucchini slices. Top with halloumi, remaining pesto, and reserved herbs, tomatoes and pine nuts. Serves 4.
Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
HOLIDAY
dish HOLIDAY is your go-to magazine for summer entertainment. Chock-full of recipes to share in the warmer weather dish HOLIDAY is a one-off special edition, designed for the beach, bach, boat or back yard. Different than a regular issue of dish, it is dedicated to making the most of warm-weather leisure time, including barbecue and salad recipes, Spotify playlists, a beach read, crosswords and puzzles, fish and chip and ice cream guides and much more.
This issue is not part of the 12-month subscription and is available only at retail in Aotearoa New Zealand.