These Crispy Halloumi Grain Bowls with Creamy Dill Dressing are a delicious and nutritious meal packed with flavor and varying textures. Crispy halloumi cheese and oven-crisped chickpeas serve as the heft for this grain bowl. Fresh veggies and a delicious fresh dill dressing complete this dish – these are as tasty as they are pretty!
What is it about meals in a bowl that make them so satisfying?
Bowl meals are one of our favorite ways to enjoy food. We can’t be the only ones!
There’s something so good about combining a bunch of ingredients in a deconstructed sort of way, adding a good sauce or dressing, and then enjoying as is. I also love how each person can customize their own bowl however they see fit.
I can’t explain it, but both Dan and I thoroughly enjoy a good bowl meal.
These Crispy Halloumi Grain Bowls with Creamy Dill Dressing are certainly no exception!
These are hearty and light at the same time — love when that happens — and you get a delicious variety of textures and flavors here.
The base of these bowls is any cooked grain you prefer — I did a mix of brown rice and quinoa in ours, but I think this would be delicious over a hearty grain like farro as well.
The stars of the show, however, are the pan-seared halloumi cheese, spiced crispy chickpeas, and divinely creamy dill dressing.
Swoon!
There is something SO magical about crispy halloumi. Dan and I are obsessed. It’s salty and chewy with that cheese curd “squeak,” and it adds something decadent and fun to an otherwise very healthy meal. We adore it.
The chickpeas are crisped up in the oven with a little olive oil and seasonings, and they bring a lovely flavor and plant-based protein to the situation. I could munch on them all day!
The dill dressing is the stuff spring dreams are made of. Tangy and bright, this dressing could be used on a variety of salads or as a sauce for grilled meat or seafood. It’s so, so good.
Ingredients You Need to Make These Crispy Halloumi Grain Bowls with Creamy Dill Dressing:
For the Crispy Chickpeas:
- Canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and dried well
- Olive oil
- Seasonings: garlic salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika
For the Halloumi:
- Halloumi cheese, sliced and patted dry
- Olive oil
For the Dressing:
- Greek yogurt
- Dijon mustard
- Champagne or white wine vinegar
- Garlic
- Fresh dill
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Bowls:
- Cooked grain of choice (rice, quinoa, farro, etc)
- Baby greens or microgreens
- Cherry tomatoes
- Sliced cucumbers
- Kalamata olives
- Red onion
How to Make These Crispy Halloumi Grain Bowls with Creamy Dill Dressing:
For the Crispy Chickpeas:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Ensure your chickpeas are as dry as possible.
- Spread out the chickpeas in an even layer and then drizzle over the olive oil and seasonings. Toss well to evenly coat the chickpeas.
- Roast the chickpeas in the oven for 20-25 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice, until the chickpeas are crispy. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- While the chickpeas are baking, prep the other components: halloumi, dressing, cooked grains, and fresh vegetables.
For the Halloumi:
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Place the sliced halloumi in the skillet, in batches, and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until golden and crisp on the outside.
- Place the crisped cheese on a paper-towel lined plate.
For the Dressing:
Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
For the Bowls:
- In each bowl, place roughly ½ cup of grains, a sprinkling of baby greens, and a ½ cup each of tomatoes and cucumbers. Add in a few olives and red onions and then the crispy chickpeas and seared halloumi cheese.
- Drizzle over the dill dressing and season everything with a little salt and pepper. This can be served warm or at room temperature.
This is one of those meals where there’s quite a few components, but the actual prep of each is fairly simple. This is a great meal prep idea because everything can be cooked and assembled ahead of time.
Love when that happens!
Especially when crispy halloumi is involved. Sign me up!
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Crispy Halloumi Grain Bowls with Creamy Dill Dressing
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These Crispy Halloumi Grain Bowls with Creamy Dill Dressing are a delicious and nutritious meal packed with flavor and varying textures. Crispy halloumi cheese and oven-crisped chickpeas serve as the heft for this grain bowl. Fresh veggies and a delicious fresh dill dressing complete this dish – these are as tasty as they are pretty!
Ingredients
For the Crispy Chickpeas:
- 1 (15-oz) can chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and dried well
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Halloumi:
- 8 oz halloumi cheese, sliced and patted dry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon champagne or white wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 cup fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Bowls:
- 3 cups cooked grain of choice (rice, quinoa, farro, etc)
- 2 cups baby greens or microgreens
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups sliced cucumbers
- 1 cup kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup sliced red onion
Instructions
For the Crispy Chickpeas:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Ensure your chickpeas are as dry as possible.
- Spread out the chickpeas in an even layer and then drizzle over the olive oil and seasonings. Toss well to evenly coat the chickpeas.
- Roast the chickpeas in the oven for 20-25 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice, until the chickpeas are crispy.
- Remove from the oven and set aside.
- While the chickpeas are baking, prep the other components: halloumi, dressing, cooked grains, and fresh vegetables.
For the Halloumi:
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Place the sliced halloumi in the skillet, in batches, and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until golden and crisp on the outside.
- Place the crisped cheese on a paper-towel lined plate.
For the Dressing:
Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
For the Bowls:
- In each bowl, place roughly ½ cup of grains, a sprinkling of baby greens, and a ½ cup each of tomatoes and cucumbers. Add in a few olives and red onions and then the crispy chickpeas and seared halloumi cheese.
- Drizzle over the dill dressing and season everything with a little salt and pepper. This can be served warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Like with any bowl-style meal, you can adjust this any which way you like. Omit an ingredient or adjust the quantities as you see fit. Add chicken for more protein. These are completely customizable, which is why we love them!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: grain bowls
Hi There. I'm Molly. I'm a food-obsessed, self-taught cook and I can't wait to share my passion for all things culinary with you. My love for egg yolks is just the tip of the iceberg!
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