Halloumi & watermelon bulgur salad

A satisfying vegetarian salad of contrasting flavours and textures. The salty cheese is cooled by crisp, sweet watermelon

Ingredients

200g bulgur wheat

50g pumpkin seed

3 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil

250g pack halloumi cheese, cut into 10-12 slices

1 cucumber, halved lengthways, seeds scooped out and cut into chunks

large bunch either parsley, mint, coriander or basil, or a mixture, chopped, reserving a few leaves to serve

zest and juice 2 lemons

¼ watermelon, cut into chunks, or a 400g pack ready-prepared

Method

Boil the kettle. Put the bulgur wheat in a bowl with some seasoning, pour over enough hot water to just cover, then cover with cling film and set aside to absorb the liquid while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Heat a large frying pan and add the pumpkin seeds, toast for a few mins until the seeds start to crackle and pop, then tip into a dish and set aside.

Heat a drizzle of oil in the pan. Add the halloumi slices and fry for 2-3 mins on each side or until golden.

Unwrap the bulgur wheat and check that it is tender (if not, re-cover and leave for another 5 mins). All the water should have been absorbed, but if not, drain the excess.

Add the remaining oil, the cucumber, herbs, lemon zest and juice, and pumpkin seeds to the bulgur wheat and toss well.

Transfer to a platter, top with the watermelon and halloumi, and scatter with the reserved herbs.