When I said I did a thing…I really meant I did a thing. This “thing” to me is quite revolutionary! I would say just as revolutionary as Tandoori Grilled Cheese, and that is saying A LOT. So let’s get to it. There is so much buzz around Greek halloumi cheese, but why is no one talking about using paneer just like halloumi?? It’s easy enough to find (Whole foods, Costco, local Indian grocery stores), and it works so well in salads!
So here is my Indian version of halloumi and melon salad where I’ve used paneer, cantoloupe, and two dressings–a creamy, minty yogurt sauce + a crazy easy sweet and spicy harissa dressing. This combination is an explosion of flavors and textures, and really takes this simple salad over the top! I mean…why not, right? Indian food is bold, and I was down to a handful of walnuts and cranberries so what better way to clean out the pantry 😉
Grilled Paneer and Melon Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz paneer cheese or halloumi sliced into 8 pieces
- 3 cups chopped cantaloupe or honeydew melon diced into 1 inch pieces
Yogurt Dressing
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint finely chopped
- 1 large clove garlic grated or minced
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
Harissa Dressing
- 1/4 cup oil avocado or extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp harissa
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts lightly toasted
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
Instructions
- In two separate bowls mix together ingredients for the yogurt dressing and harissa dressing.
- Slice paneer into about 8 pieces using a serrated knife.
- Lightly oil the slices while your grill (or indoor grill pan) gets hot.
- Cook paneer at medium-high heat until you see nice golden brown grill marks. Flip and repeat. Alternatively, you can pan-fry the paneer until lightly brown on both sides. Be careful while cooking since paneer contains some moisture and the oil may splatter.
- Place grilled paneer on a plate and sprinkle with salt.
- Assemble salad with melon, paneer, and sauces!
- Garnish with more walnuts, cranberries, herbs, and even avocado!
Notes
What a gorgeous salad! I haven’t tried paneer before, but I love melon and cheese so I bet it’s amazing! Putting it on my list!
Thanks Melissa! Paneer is very similar to Greek halloumi…firm and mild in flavor. It doesn’t come in a brine, but it is great when grilled, fried, or baked into sauces. Whole Foods and Costco usually carry it if you don’t have an Indian grocery store near by.