Watermelon & Basil Tabbouleh with Grilled Halloumi

Additional Notes

What can I use instead of couscous?

Traditionally, tabbouleh is made using bulgar wheat. We used couscous in this recipe as it is more available in South Africa, but you can use bulgar wheat, quinoa or millet instead of couscous. As a low-carb option, you can use cauliflower rice as a substitute. Make your own cauli-rice using this recipe.

How do I toast Sunflower Seeds?

Sunflower seeds should be dry-roasted; when you roast them, some of their natural oils are released so they smell delicious and look shiny.

Heat a non-stick pan on the stove to medium heat, add sunflower seeds and toss every now and then until just toasted (about 5-10 minutes). You will see them start to brown and smell the aroma, take them off the heat once toasted as they can burn quickly.

Another option is to toast the sunflower seeds in the oven or air fryer. Line a tray or the air fryer with baking paper or tin foil; add a layer of sunflower seeds and toast at about 170℃ for about 7 – 10 minutes, until lightly toasted. Toss them now and then so that they do not burn.

Store sunflower seeds in a sealed container (glass jar) for up to 4 months, or store in the freezer for future use (up to a year).

Halloumi Cooking Tips:

Grilling halloumi can be daunting for many, so here are some tips to ensure you get perfect Halloumi with that little ‘squeak’. (Halloumi lovers will know what this means). Halloumi has a higher melting point than you will find with most types of cheese, which makes it a great candidate for grilling.

• Ensure the pan, or grill is hot enough / reached high heat before adding the halloumi.
• Halloumi crisps up best when there’s a little fat in the pan (or on the grill), like a tablespoon or two of olive oil.
• Pair it with fruit. The soft, smoky, creamy sweetness of grilled halloumi is a natural fit for a bit of sweet fruit like watermelon or peaches.
• Halloumi cheese is best served immediately, crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. It is not the best for reheating or eaten cold. This means you should ensure to only cook the halloumi once all the other elements are ready to serve.