Halloumi burgers with tomato salsa and sweet potato chips

Use this summer staple for your garden BBQs and swap out your beef burgers with these tasty vegetarian halloumi burgers! You can even whip them up in the kitchen and serve them as a quick and easy lunch – they’re also great on camping holidays! Summer is waiting for YOU to get the BBQ started. 

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Burgers

4 Butterhead lettuce leaves

250 g block halloumi cheese – cut into 8 thick slices

1 tbsp olive oil

4 wholemeal buns

4 tbsp hummus

4 tbsp fresh tomato salsa

Tomato salsa

4-6 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped 

½ red onion, very finely chopped 

1 small garlic clove, chopped 

a small splash of white wine vinegar 

½ lime, juiced 

½ bunch of coriander, roughly chopped 

Sweet potato chips 

800g sweet potatoes 

1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika 

2 tbsp olive oil 

Salt and pepper

Instructions

Salsa:

1. Peel the tomatoes. Top tip: To quickly peel your tomatoes, put them in a bowl, immerse them in boiling water, and leave them for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then get rid of the water. Allow to cool, and the skins will peel off easily using your fingers!
2. Combine the tomatoes, red onion, garlic, white wine vinegar, lime juice and coriander in a bowl.
3. Stir, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

Burgers:

1. Chop and slice your lettuce and block of halloumi into eight slices.
2. Brush each side of all the halloumi slices with olive oil and cook them on each side for 2-3 mins or until golden.
3. Split the buns (toast them briefly on both sides if you like but be careful not to burn them) and spread the bottom halves with the hummus.
4. To serve: Add the halloumi, finish with the lettuce and salsa and top with the other half of the bun.

Chips:

1. Preheat your oven to 220°C/ Fan 200°C/ Gas 7.
2. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into chips. In a bowl, mix them with the smoked paprika, olive oil and salt and pepper.
3. Place the sweet potato chips onto a lightly greased baking tray (where possible, avoid using non-stick cookware) and ensure they are in a single layer.
4. Roast for roughly 25-30 minutes. Check now and then and make sure they don’t burn.

Optional:

• Add some avocado to your halloumi burger if you like! 

Why this is good for you

Halloumi is a great alternative to red meat and contributes to protein and calcium intake.  Although high in calories and salt, it is okay to eat halloumi in moderation as part of a balanced, healthy diet.

Tomatoes contain key carotenoids such as lycopene and beta-carotene. Carotenoids are substances found in fruit and vegs responsible for their bright colours and have also been linked with a reduced breast cancer risk, especially when you eat lots of them.  

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