Emily Russell | OKC Veggie

Welcome to OKCVeggie.com!

Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian or just trying to eat less meat, these recipes are for you. My goal with OKC Veggie is to show people that cooking delicious vegetarian food is achievable, accessible and seriously satisfying. Enjoy!

Emily Russell | OKC Veggie

Recipe: Grilled Halloumi Sandwich

Recipe: Grilled Halloumi Sandwich

During our wedding in Worcester and honeymoon in Edinburgh + Inverness last September, my husband & I ate our weight in grilled halloumi. It was on nearly every menu we encountered in the UK and quickly became one of my obsessions. 

The Holyrood 9A in Edinburgh, which had an awesome halloumi sandwich and was just around the corner from our AirBNB. | photo via BBC

The Holyrood 9A in Edinburgh, which had an awesome halloumi sandwich and was just around the corner from our AirBNB. | photo via BBC

Halloumi, FYI, is a semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese that has a high melting point & can easily be fried or grilled. It’s an import in the US, so a package (about 8 slices) is a pricey $14, but so worth it. We bought it at Uptown Grocery, but I'm sure it's available at Whole Foods, etc. too.

As a vegetarian, summer grilling season always leaves me wondering: what to eat? Grilled veggies are an obvious choice, of course, but can get quite boring. My never-ending quest is for interesting vegetarian foods to grill, and halloumi definitely fits the bill.

 

Marinated halloumi + rosemary foccacia bread

Marinated halloumi + rosemary foccacia bread

Sunday nights are often reserved for experimental cooking. I'm incredibly grateful to have a husband who is [1] an amazing chef (not remotely being facetious...he could have his own restaurant) and [2] is always excited and up for cooking creative vegetarian food. I've been a vegetarian for 11 years, but Ed is most certainly a carnivore; luckily he's an adventurous eater and loves to cook dishes that surprise and delight. 

Enter in last night's dinner. Ed totally made up this recipe: grilled halloumi on rosemary focaccia bread topped with curry slaw, balsamic onions, bibb lettuce and feta crumbles.

Pure delciousness

Pure delciousness

Halloumi is awesome because it's a simple base that goes with so many different flavors. We've done it with barbeque sauce, we've done it with curry sauce...literally any flavors go great with it. I definitely encourage you to get grilling and get creative!

Rough recipe and ingredients included below.

 

MAIN INGREDIENTS

1 package of halloumi

Crusty bread

Red onion

Bibb lettuce

Slaw mix

Feta crumbles

 

SPICES & MORE

Rosemary

Thyme

Oregano

Summer savory

Curry powder

Mint

Pepper

Olive oil

Red wine vinegar 

Balsamic vinegar

Light mayo

 

Curry slaw. Not pretty, but very delicious.

Curry slaw. Not pretty, but very delicious.

STEPS

1) Slice halloumi and add to a plastic bag. Toss with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, summer savory, mint and pepper. Let sit for a few hours to marinade. 

2) When you're ready to eat, slice up the bread and brush with olive oil. Lightly toast on the grill or stovetop. 

3) Grab a bag of pre-made slaw and toss in curry powder, light mayo, lime juice, fresh cracked pepper, red wine vinegar.

4) Sautée sliced red onions in balsamic vinegar until translucent and/or crispy.

5) Grill halloumi until it crisps up a bit. Put on bread and top with slaw, bibb lettuce, red onions and feta cheese crumbles.

Local: Cacio e Pepe

Local: Cacio e Pepe