• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Eat Love Eat
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Work with Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 30 Minute Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 30 Minute Recipes
    • Recipes
    • About Us
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Eat Love Eat » Recipes » Salads

    Cherry and Halloumi Maftoul Salad

    Published: Aug 14, 2015, Last Modified: April 2, 2022, By Sasha Hooper · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A bowl of crispy halloumi on top of cherries with maftoul and leaves.

    I've been away from these parts for a while, but oh, does it feel good to be back! I got pretty busy and as this blog is as yet unestablished and I hadn't quite got into the rhythm, it was easiest to set it aside for a while. I'm back a newly married woman (!) feeling refreshed and ready to do this thing!

    So to the food! Of all the seasonal foods, arguably my most eagerly anticipated is cherries. Few things compare to the simple pleasure of a perfectly ripe English (preferably Kentish!) cherry, eaten straight from the fridge. I won't eat a cherry out of season so when the first crimson fruits appear in early July, I get a tad excited.

    A bowl of cherries with a napkin and a wooden background.

    When I was younger, I turned my nose up at any food combining both sweet and savoury elements. My immature palate just couldn't handle it. And when I ate my dinner, I wanted it to be decidedly savoury - dessert could wait until after. But now, I'm endlessly fascinated with it. Now, fruit in salad is just the thing to do. So, naturally, I had to make me a cherry salad this summer.

    A bowl od cherry maftoul salad with a fork.

    I knew I wanted to make a grainy salad. Quinoa just felt wrong and I had a box of maftoul sitting in the cupboard, bought on a whim a few months ago. It felt like the right thing to do. Have you ever eaten maftoul? It's a nubbly Palestinian giant wholemeal couscous and it's delicious. It has just the right amount of bite and a nutty flavour. Combined with a few more summer essential items and some salty halloumi (got to have that super savoury element) - this salad was an instant winner. It's all bound together with a simple balsamic vinaigrette - I used homemade cherry balsamic but any good balsamic vinegar will be great.

    A bowl of maftoul cherry salad with wooden background.
    A bowl of halloumi cherry maftoul salad.

    Related recipes

    • A bowl of cherry salsa on a plate with tortilla chips.
      Cherry Salsa (Fresh & Zingy!)
    • Watermelon basil salad served on a platter with balsamic glaze and a golden fork to the side.
      Watermelon Basil Salad
    • Nectarine salad served on a platter with two serving spoons.
      Nectarine Salad with Jalapeño Lime Dressing
    • three mini cast iron skillets with cherry tarte tatin in and ice cream on top.
      Mini Cherry Tarte Tatin

    📖 Recipe

    A halloumi cherry maftoul salad in a white bowl.

    Cherry and Halloumi Maftoul Salad

    A light and refreshing salad packed with cherries, halloumi and tasty greens.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe ⭐️ Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Sasha Hooper

    Equipment

    • Sauce pan
    • Frying pan

    Ingredients 

    • 100 g maftoul, (½ cup)
    • 1 litre water, (4 cups)
    • 6-8 radishes
    • 3 spring onions
    • a big handful of cherries, (roughly 20)
    • fresh herbs - I used parsley and basil
    • a small handful of almonds
    • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
    • 3 teaspoons cold-pressed rapeseed or olive oil
    • pinch salt and pepper
    • 100 g halloumi, (about half a regular block)
    • salad leaves, to serve

    Instructions

    • First cook the maftoul. I just followed the package instructions which were to bring to the boil a litre of slightly salted water, add the maftoul and simmer for 7-8 minutes until cooked. It should be al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
      100 g maftoul, 1 litre water
    • Dice the radishes and finely slice the spring onions. Finely chop the herbs. Pit the cherries and slice into halves. Roughly chop the almonds. Place all of these ingredients into a large bowl.
      6-8 radishes, 3 spring onions, a big handful of cherries, fresh herbs - I used parsley and basil, a small handful of almonds
    • Use a fork to separate the grains of the maftoul and add to the bowl.
    • In a jam jar or small bowl, mix together the balsamic vinegar and oil with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss with the rest of the salad ingredients.
      1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 3 teaspoons cold-pressed rapeseed or olive oil, pinch salt and pepper
    • Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Cut the halloumi into cubes and fry until golden brown.
      100 g halloumi
    • Place some salad leaves in 2 bowls, divide the salad mixture between the bowls and top with the fried halloumi.
      salad leaves
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Notes

    If you can't get hold of maftoul I would recommend using something like pearl barley or farro as a substitute. You want something nutty and substantial.
    Use any herbs you like, but basil has a real affinity with cherries so use a good handful if you have some!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 622kcal | Carbohydrates: 70.7g | Protein: 27.2g | Fat: 27.7g | Saturated Fat: 12.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7.4g | Cholesterol: 44.5mg | Sodium: 899.7mg | Potassium: 1545.7mg | Fiber: 12.9g | Sugar: 13.1g | Vitamin A: 77.1IU | Vitamin C: 120mg | Calcium: 825.3mg | Iron: 5.7mg
    Course Salad
    Cuisine British
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below with how you got on and don't forget to give the recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. You can also tag @eatloveeats on Instagram - we love to see your creations!
    A halloumi cherry maftoul salad in a white bowl.

    Go make it before the cherries disappear for another year!

    « 30-Minute Cheat's Paella
    Courgette and Sweetcorn Tart »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue says

      September 24, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      This salad has such a lovely combination of flavours. So good.

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    sasha-profile

    Hi there, I’m Sasha and I’m excited that you’re here! At Eat Love Eat, I work with my husband Jacob to create modern and approachable recipes that highlight the magic in simplicity; it’s our passion.

    More about us →

    follow us

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    trending seasonal recipes

    • A bowl of butternut squash and red pepper soup with yogurt and pumpkin seeds on top with a spoon.
      Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
    • Three bowls of creamy coconut curry chicken soup with a gold spoon, naan and cilantro.
      Creamy Coconut Curry Chicken Soup
    • Sausage ragu with pappardelle in bowls with a fork and herbs in a bowl nearby.
      Easy Italian Sausage Ragu with Pappardelle
    • a bowl of salad with a fork on a light background with pumpkin seeds scattered around
      Beetroot Avocado Feta Salad
    • Various bowls of spiced sweet potato and carrot soup with gold spoons and topped with tahini drizzle and sesame brittle.
      Spiced Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup
    • Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet Recipe in a skillet with a spoon and a napkin around the handle.
      Healthy Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet
    • Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffles on a plate, one on top with a bite showing the vivid raspberry centre.
      Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffles
    • Sticky spicy baked chicken wings on a metal tray with lime wedges with a creamy dipping sauce in a small bowl.
      Sticky Spicy Baked Chicken Wings (Easy and Super Crispy!)

    trending right now

    • Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet Recipe in a skillet with a spoon and a napkin around the handle.
      Healthy Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet
    • Sausage ragu with pappardelle in bowls with a fork and herbs in a bowl nearby.
      Easy Italian Sausage Ragu with Pappardelle
    • Plum and almond cake sliced up into portions with spices, plums and almonds around
      Almond Plum Cake (Gluten Free)
    • Beetroot falafel in a bowl served on top of hummus with avocado and leaves and a fork.
      Easy Beetroot Falafel (Vegan)
    • Sticky spicy baked chicken wings on a metal tray with lime wedges with a creamy dipping sauce in a small bowl.
      Sticky Spicy Baked Chicken Wings (Easy and Super Crispy!)
    • A bowl of butternut squash and red pepper soup with yogurt and pumpkin seeds on top with a spoon.
      Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
    • Salmon slider on parchment lined baking sheet with lime mayo and chilli jam and a skewer.
      Blackened Salmon Sliders
    • Beetroot hummus in a bowl with feta, mint and olive oil on top with crackers around.
      Easy Roasted Beetroot Hummus

    as seen in

    Featured in banner with list of brand logos.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    Disclaimers

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    Contact

    • Contact Us

    Copyright © 2024 Eat Love Eat

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.