I recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend a trip sponsored by Dole Food Company. I learned a lot about their fresh fruit and vegetables operations and came away with a greater appreciation for the people who grow the produce we eat and especially for the hard-working individuals who work on the fields and in the processing facilities. It's hard, hard work and when you savor every bite you eat tonight or from now on, think of how the food made it onto your plate and who was involved in it.
We had wonderful cooking demos and tastings from Chef Michael Foley and Chef Daniel Kelly, both from Chicago. They ‘made' us come up with our own salad recipes and didn't get annoyed when we had all of these different ingredient requests.
The night before the demos at dinner, we had a salad that had blueberries in it. It was out of this world…seriously, if you have never had blueberries in your salad before, you are missing out. When thinking about my salad, I started first with blueberries. Funny, huh?
I seriously blanked out except for blueberries. My friend, Brooke, (who I'm so happy to have met finally in person) helped me and said maybe you should add a soft cheese. When I mentioned this to Chef Michael…he said he had the perfect thing for me! Halloumi. What? What is halloumi? I had never heard of it. And umm, mind blown. Cheese that you grill or really actually fry. It's amazing!
I had to give you a picture to show you how I fried the cheese!
I added blackberries because when I asked about the blueberries, Chef Daniel said he had something else for me. He handed me some blackberries and they were so amazingly fresh and right then realized how much I was missing out by completely ignoring blackberries for so long. I need to add more blackberries to my life.
They had to make it into my salad…and then I'll be honest with you, I added strawberries because my salad needed color. It ended up working out pretty well and the balsamic vinaigrette works well with the cheese and the berries!
5 things I'm obsessed with now since my trip
- putting berries in my salad, you already knew that
- lavender EVERYTHING – I need to make this
- getting back to Carmel Valley Ranch again, it's so beautiful there
- putting berries in my salad
- putting berries in my salad
See how gorgeous it is?
And these lovely ladies, it was so fun to spend time with such good friends and make new ones. And see Brooke, Shari and Lauren as well!
At the Dole event, I paired their baby spinach and spring mix but when I got home and found their baby butter lettuces, I added them in too. A wonderful salad I will be making over and over again.
Thanks to Dole for the wonderful trip, the amazing experience especially opening my eyes to creating salads in a whole new way!
Recipe
Triple Berry Salad with Halloumi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Sunnyridge Farms blueberries, washed
- 1/2 cup strawberries, washed and chopped
- 1/2 cup Sunnyridge Farms blackberries, washed
- washed handfuls of various greens, (I used Dole spring mix, baby spinach & baby butter lettuce)
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt & pepper
- Halloumi slices, preparation in the instructions
Instructions
- Prep and wash the berries.
- Using a whisk and small bowl, whisk together vinegar and olive oil. Add salt & pepper to taste.
How to prepare Halloumi (instructions from Chef Michael Foley)
- Cut the cheese into 1/2 thick slices Heat a non-stick pan on low heat wih 1/8 inch of olive oil Lightly flip the cheese and add 1 tsp of butter to finish it off Allow cheese to cool slightly on a plate lined with paper towels That's it, it only takes a few minutes to cook!
- Toss salad greens and berries, top with cheese and drizzle dressing on top!
Notes
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Leave a RatingDisclosure: All of my expenses for this trip was covered by Dole. I am only expressing my sincere opinions here and I was not compensated nor was I required to write this post…I wrote it because I wanted to share this recipe with you…and my obsession with berries in salads now!
Aqiyl Aniys says
Excellent triple berry salad. I would like to dive into it right now.
addie @ culicurious.com says
that was such a great salad, Julie! Love that halloumi 🙂
Marly says
Berries are a super food so that makes this salad Super Squared!! I have just the tiniest patch of lavender in my back yard and I love it too. Wish mine looked more like your lovely photo…maybe someday!
Kristen says
I had my first experience with Halloumi at EVO and about died – grilled cheese perfection and what a great topping for a salad!
Cookin' Canuck says
Julie, it was so good to finally meet you in person. Your kindness and generosity shine through in everything you do. And this halloumi salad…I’m telling everyone, from personal experience, that this salad is amazing!
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
I am loving this salad recipe! So many killer flavors and what a combo. Yum!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Well, maybe I need to start putting berries in my salad 😉
And I need to get to Carmel.
ANNND I need to go on a trip with you again!!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Gorgeous salad and now that I’ve read about cheese that you fry I am on a mission to find halloumi!
Jenny @ BAKE says
I’m obsessed with berry salads too! I had never thought of adding halloumi over a goats cheese or mozzarella but as it’s my favourite cheese I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
I’ll be on the lookout for the Halloumi cheese next time I’m at the store! And I can’t wait to try your recipe. I usually only put dried fruits on my salad but this looks so good and colorful!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Julie I just recently had halloumi for the first time and was IN LOVE. What a great way to use it with all the beautiful berries!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
Going to something like that must be so fun! It looks like you had a great time. 🙂
When I clicked on this, I thought Halloumi was a type of fish. Yikes. Thanks for educating me! Your salad looks beautiful. The strawberries were definitely a good call!
Alicia @ Alicia Carlson Photography says
Thanks for the new lunch idea! I’m excited to try halloumi.
Ashley says
Cute photo of the 4 of us! Again, it was so great to finally meet you. Your salad was outstanding, and I’m still thinking about that cheese!
katie says
I’m drooling at my desk. This salad looks amazing and the thought of fried cheese on it… I’m in heaven!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I really need to try halloumi! It kind of reminds me of this Finnish bread cheese they used to make at the university I went to. This is gorgeous!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Ok… so I just recently learned about halloumi and I picked some up at Whole Foods and it’s now sitting in my fridge waiting to be used. This looks like the perfect dish to try it out on. Love the cheese/berry combo!
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
So beautiful and it sounds delicious!
Kathryn says
Such a pretty salad! And I love that you used blackberries, they’re one of my favourites at the moment and I bet it works so well with the halloumi!
Sweetsugarbelle says
Sorry…technical difficulties…anywho unjust went to San Fran to visit a friend and I swear she served this for breakfast. Put it right on her panini press!!! We’re
You in California?!
Sweetsugarbelle says
Julie!!! I’m Thibking I ate this n
naomi says
The photos are gorgeous. The vibrancy of the salad definitely translated over well!
btw-love berries in my salad too!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
I love adding strawberries to my salad but I’ve never tried it with blueberries. But you definitely convinced me because I will most definitely try it ASAP! And halloumi? Fried cheese? Where has this been my entire life?!
Julie Deily says
I seriously keep saying that to myself too…about the blueberries and the cheese!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
let’s go back. i need a s’more!
(and more fried cheese.)
Nisrine says
Oh Julie…this looks like a fabulous salad to me. I love halloumi!
Aggie says
I have never had that cheese before! It looks amazing! Great salad, fun trip!
LuAnne says
That looks so gorgeous! And yummy!
cassie says
This is beyond incredible, Julie! I happen to adore berries (and other fruit) in my salads. And this halloumi has me completely enamored with this salad. Love everything about it. Oh, and the next time you go to Carmel, I want to be there too!!!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
great looking salad Julie! YUM!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
So fun! This sounds awesome!
Jen M O says
Your salad looks so wonderful and I’m definitively going to have to try the halloumi cheese. I have tried blueberries and strawberries but what a great idea about blackberries in a salad!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
Oh I need this salad… fried cheese and fruit in a salad?!
Linda says
What a lovely journey and it’s always fun to learn the green stuffs (veggies). I really adore the colorful salad and my husband is a huge fan of berries, especially blueberries. Now that I read your post, I’m dying to try halloumi cheese. I never thought about combining salad and deep fried cheese, that’s just so cool!
Mal @ The Chic Geek says
I love berries on my salad, this looks incredible!
Paula - bell'alimento says
That salad looks insane! Love putting berries in! And that halloumi swoon
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
I didn’t know Brooke was there TOO! I <3 her.
This looks insane, Julie. I so wanna lick it.
AND, I've always wanted to try halloumi but definitely had to glance up at the title just now to spell that word right.
Amy @ The Nifty Foodie says
I’ve recently been introduced to berry salads too and I’m obsessed! I didn’t think I’d love them, but man, I need to make one again very soon! Your salad looks great! I’ve never tried halloumi before, but since I pretty much love ALL cheeses, I’m sure I’d love this too!