Thai – Style Watermelon & Halloumi Salad

If you enjoyed the recipe of watermelon, feta and mint salad definitely have to try this version!

It’s not a typical Thai salad, simply because halloumi isn’t part of Thai cuisine. However, the combination of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours is the very essence of Thai cooking. I was lucky enough to take part in a cooking experience at Sompong Thai Cooking School in Bangkok. It was such a wonderful experience! You can choose to spend a full day or even a whole week at the school, learning the secrets of authentic Thai cuisine.

In countries where hot summer days are part of everyday life, watermelon is truly the king of the table. Locals often enjoy it straight from the fridge for breakfast or serve it as part of refreshing salads. The addition of fresh chilli gives this salad an extra refreshing kick and makes it perfect for hot summer days.

For this version, I used grated halloumi, which allows all the flavours to blend beautifully together. If you prefer, however, you can replace it with slices of grilled halloumi – the salad will be just as delicious.

What is real hallumi? Not all are the same

Traditional Cypriot halloumi is made from fresh sheep’s and goat’s milk. Traditionally, mint leaves are also added to the cheese, giving it a delicate aroma and helping to preserve its freshness.

Authentic halloumi with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) does not contain cow’s milk, although it is often added to many cheaper cheeses available in shops to reduce production costs.

So, if you see “halloumi-style cheese” or a similar description on the packaging, make sure to check the ingredients. If it contains cow’s milk, it is not traditional halloumi. This is particularly important for people who are intolerant to cow’s milk proteins, as some of them may tolerate dairy products made from goat’s and sheep’s milk better.

Look for the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) label and the distinctive EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) logo on the packaging. This certification confirms that the product meets specific requirements and is produced according to traditional methods in its designated region. The logo looks like this:

Thai-Style Watermelon & Halloumi Salad

Emilia Hughes

A refreshing, tangy Thai-style salad, perfect for hot summer days.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Course Salad

Servings 2

Ingredients

  

• 500 g watermelon
• 50 g halloumi
• 1/2 chilli
• a few coriander leaves
• a few mint leaves
• 6 cherry tomatoes (optional)

Dressing

• juice of 1 lime

Instructions

 

• Cut the watermelon into cubes and place in a large bowl. If using cherry tomatoes, cut them in half and add to the watermelon.
• Grate the halloumi using the coarse side of a grater and sprinkle evenly over the salad. Alternatively, you can cut the cheese into slices, grill on both sides until golden, and arrange on top.
• Finely chop the chilli. If you prefer a milder flavour, remove the seeds first. Add to the salad along with the torn mint and coriander leaves.
• Drizzle the salad with lime juice just before serving. Serve immediately, preferably well chilled.

Let me know in the comments how you liked this salad — I’d love to hear what you think and see photos of your creation!