Grilled Halloumi and Avocado Bagel

GRILLED HALLOUMI AND AVOCADO BAGEL

Halloumi may be my favourite cheese, it’s so versatile and I love its salty and bouncy texture. Firstly, I love that you can grill it and it doesn’t completely melt. It has such an amazing texture and the grilled flavour makes it taste amazing! With this bagel, I knew that the halloumi was going to be very salty so I needed flavours to balance it out. I went with avocado because I generally love the flavour of avocado and it has quite a mild flavour in general so it went really well with the cheese. All the flavours worked together so well in this grilled halloumi and avocado bagel.

Adding in some salad is always great for some freshness because it makes the bagel feel a bit more light. I think if you skip salad in a bagel or sandwich then it can feel to heavy in the stomach and it loses the balance of flavours. I’ve been adding in spinach to my sandwiches lately and I’ve really been loving the flavour. Spinach has a sharp, fresh flavour and I’ve found that its less watery than other styles of salad such as iceberg and romaine lettuce.

I sometimes add in chicken because I often forget to add in some protein but I didn’t have any to hand today. Instead I had a little handful of almonds on the side of my bagel. That’s a trick I’ve been using for a while now. If I don’t want to eat meat or eggs etc. but I want to add some protein into my meal, I’ll have a handful of nuts. It’s easy and effective and I noticed a big difference in my overall health when I started doing this.

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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS GRILLED HALLOUMI AND AVOCADO BAGEL

1. Quick and easy – This is a really quick and easy lunch idea and its perfect for a busy day when you don’t have a lot of time.
2. Creamy Avocado Goodness – Avocado brings a creamy and buttery texture to the bagel making each bite satisfying and delicious.
3. Nutrient-Rich Combo: Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit, providing healthy  fats, vitamins, and minerals. The grilled halloumi is a good source of protein and calcium so this is a well-rounded nutritious meal.
4. Grilled Halloumi’s Texture: Grilled halloumi cheese has a unique texture as its crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The grilling process enhances its savoury flavour and is perfectly salty.
5. Customisable: You can customise this recipe by switching out the salad, trying a different cheese such as gouda and trying a variation of bagels.

HOW TO MAKE THIS GRILLED HALLOUMI AND AVOCADO BAGEL

1. To make this quick, easy and satisfying meal; grill the sliced halloumi onto a hot pan and flip occasionally until the cheese is brown. Toast the bagel on a hot pan until brown. You can place into a toaster if that’s convenient for you.
2. Slices the tomatoes and mash the avocado (add a squeeze of lemon and pinch of salt to the avocado).
3. Assemble the bagel by first spreading the avocado on the toasted bagel, then adding slide tomato, grilled halloumi and top with spinach for a fresh crunch.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

Bagel – You can go sesame, plain or everything bagel but be sure to toast it as it will give the bagel a nice crunch.

Halloumi  – Cut your halloumi into slices and then cook it on a hot dry pan. You don’t need to put any oil in the pan.

Tomatoes Sliced – Use whichever salad you’d like but I think tomatoes taste great with the halloumi.

Avocado, Squeeze Lemon, Salt – Avocadoes with a little salt and a squeeze of lemon make a great addition to the bagel.

Spinach – Add a little spinach for some freshness and added crunch.

TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST GRILLED HALLOUMI AND AVOCADO BAGEL

1. Toast your bagel – Toasting your bagel will give it an extra crunch and will prevent the bread from getting soggy. It will make the bagel taste so much better so don’t skip this part!
2. Grill your halloumi – Grilling your halloumi on a hot pan or grill will really elevate the flavour of the cheese. It will give it a smoky flavour and a perfectly chewy texture.
3. Pick your favourite salad – I used tomatoes and spinach in this recipe but you can really use whichever salad you’d like. Halloumi will pair well with cucumbers, onions and olives. You can also replace the spinach with any other greens such as romaine lettuce or some rocket.
4. Season your avocado – I love to add some salt and lemon or lime to my avocado because it makes it taste so much better. I first tried avocado plain and I wasn’t a fan but with the addition of salt and lemon, I think its delicious.
5. Customise your recipe – Change up the recipe based on your preference. Switch out the cheese or salad for those that you prefer, add sauces, chilli flakes or a drizzle of olive oil. Also, if you’re not a fan of avocado then you can replace it with hummus or a garlic and herb dip.

MORE TIPS

• Eat immediately – Bagels eaten immediately have a warm and crunchy texture as the bagel has been toasted. The halloumi is also warm after grilling which gives a nice contrast to the cool avocado.  
• Use fresh vegetables – Using fresh vegetables will taste so much better in this recipe because they will have a nice crunchy texture which pairs well the chewy cheese.
• Top up with greens – Adding spinach, lettuce or rocket in this recipe gives it a great freshness and nice crunchy texture.
• Bagel selection – Pick your favourite bagel type, whether it be seeded, everything or plain.
• Garnish – Garnish will fresh or dried herbs or a of olive oil for more depth of flavour.

OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Chicken Skewers – Chicken Skewers – My Simple Eats

Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken – Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken – My Simple Eats

Mozzarella, Pesto and Tomato ciabatta – Mozzarella, Pesto & Tomato Ciabatta – My Simple Eats

CONCLUSION

This is a super quick and easy lunch idea and it perfect for the days where you have little time to prepare something. It’s very customisable and the ingredients can be swapped out to meet your preference. Be sure to toast your bagel, grill your halloumi and season your avocado and you are onto a winner!