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Overhead view of Cypriot village salad with halloumi cubes, tomato wedges, and olives in a ceramic bowl on a wood table

Simple Cypriot Village Salad with Fresh Halloumi

A no-cook Cypriot salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, olives, and fresh halloumi cubes in a lemon-oil dressing, ready in 15 minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 308

Ingredients
  

Salad
  • 150 g romaine lettuce chopped
  • 400 g tomatoes (about 3 medium); cut into wedges
  • 200 g cucumber (about 1 medium); sliced into half-moons
  • 50 g red onion (about 1/2 small); thinly sliced
  • 100 g green bell pepper (about 1 small); chopped
  • 60 g kalamata olives pitted
  • 200 g halloumi fresh, not grilled, cut into 1 cm cubes
Dressing
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice fresh squeezed
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Wash and dry the romaine lettuce. Chop it into bite-size pieces and add it to a 4-quart / 3.8 L mixing bowl.
  2. Cut the tomatoes into wedges and add them to the bowl.
  3. Slice the cucumber into half-moons, about 1 cm thick, and add to the bowl.
  4. Thinly slice the red onion and scatter it over the vegetables.
  5. Chop the green bell pepper into small pieces and add it in.
  6. Add the kalamata olives.
  7. Cut the halloumi into 1 cm cubes and add to the bowl. Keep it fresh, don't grill it, so the whole salad stays no-cook.
  8. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until combined.
  9. Pour the dressing over the salad right before serving and toss gently so the halloumi cubes don't break apart.
  10. Taste and adjust salt if needed, keeping in mind the halloumi and olives are already salty. Serve right away for the best crunch.

Notes

  • Salt tomatoes only right before serving to avoid a watery dressing.
  • Use fresh, ungrilled halloumi for a squeaky, firm bite.
  • Taste before adding salt, halloumi and olives are already salty.
  • Serve within 15 minutes of tossing for the best crunch.