This is not your average summer salad recipe. Juicy nectarines, extra crispy, golden-brown halloumi and a spicy-sweet hot honey vinaigrette. It’s bold, it’s bright, and it’s the kind of salad that makes you feel like you’re winning at dinner.

A salad with spinach, sliced red onions, rice, fresh basil, crispy fried onions, and pieces of red and yellow stone fruit on a white oval plate with wooden salad tongs.

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The New York Times posted a video on grated crispy halloumi. I tried it and was hooked. I am not sure I will ever make a halloumi salad in the same way.

📖Why My Recipe Works

Grated Not Grilling- Frying the cheese shreds gives you a crispy texture you can’t get from slices.
Sweet, Salty, Spicy- This recipe has bold but well-balanced flavors thanks to sweet nectarines, salty cheese, and a lightly spiced honey dressing.

Poppyseed salad dressing and basil balsamic vinegrette are good alternatives if you don't care for the hot honey. Serve with an easy flatbread, BBQ grilled chicken, and squash casserole for the perfect summer dinner party menu.

🧾Ingredient Notes

Halloumi Cheese - Freeze the block for 10 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Oil - You can use the same oil for the dressing and for frying but I typically use my fancy EVOO for the dressing and avocado oil for the frying.
Nectarines - Choose slightly firm nectarines—they hold their shape better in salads. Peaches can be swapped in.
Greens - You can use any lettuce you like, but I prefer baby spinach and/ or arugula.
Onions - Use shallots or pickled red onions.
Hot Honey - If you don’t have it, stir a pinch of hot sauce, like Tabasco, into regular honey.
Vinegar - Stick with light vinegar like champagne, white wine or rice vinegar.