Halloumi Ciabatta with Olive Pesto and Kale

Name: Halloumi Ciabatta with Olive Pesto and Kale
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 ciabatta rolls, sliced lengthwise; 2 firmly pressed cup of kale, chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar; pinch of salt; pinch of pepper; 8 oz halloumi, cut into ¼ inch slices; 1 cup Olive Pesto

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A ciabatta sandwich with halloumi, olive pesto and kale sits on a cutting board. There is a white bowl with greens behind it.

This Mediterranean-inspired ciabatta sandwich features creamy halloumi, lemon-garlic olive pesto, and a balsamic marinated kale salad. Perfect for mixing up your usual lunch order!

Halloumi is truly having a moment in my kitchen! Not long ago, I featured it in my Air Fried Halloumi with Chopped Mediterranean Salad, and now this delightful cheese takes center stage in my latest sandwich obsession: the Halloumi Ciabatta!

This Mediterranean-inspired, vegetarian sandwich is packed with all my favorite flavors. A hearty, delicious cheese filling? Check! Perfectly crusty yet soft ciabatta bread? Check! A chunky olive pesto that adds a burst of flavor? Check! And let’s not forget the tasty balsamic-marinated kale salad that rounds it all out—double check!

At first glance, this sandwich might seem a bit fancy for an everyday meal, but don’t be fooled – it can be whipped up in about 15 minutes! And if you prepare the olive pesto ahead of time, it’s even quicker!

What is Halloumi?

The star of this sandwich, halloumi is a semi-hard, brined cheese hailing from Cyprus, typically made from a blend of sheep’s and goat’s milk. It’s similar to its cheese cousin, feta, but boasts a milder flavor. If you’ve never tried it, I would say that halloumi tastes like a slightly tangier and firmer mozzarella.

Two hands cut a block of white cheese on a wooden cutting board.

Is Halloumi Good in a Sandwich?

Absolutely! Halloumi makes a fantastic sandwich cheese for several reasons:

Texture: Its unique, firm texture makes it an excellent choice for sandwiches. Unlike many other cheeses that can become gooey in a sandwich, halloumi retains its shape making for a satisfying bite.

Versatility: With a mild, slightly salty flavor, halloumi complements a variety of bold ingredients – like olives or marinated vegetables – without overpowering them.

Vegetarian-Friendly: For those looking to reduce meat consumption, halloumi is rich in protein and calcium, and serves as a fantastic vegetarian protein source.

So, if you’re ready to shake up your lunch routine and take a break from the traditional turkey sandwich, give this Halloumi Ciabatta a try! You won’t be disappointed.

Sandwich ingredients sit on a cutting board. There is ciabatta, halloumi, olive pesto, kale, olive oil and balsamic.

Other Sandwich Ingredients

In addition to the halloumi, this sandwich has a few other key ingredients:

Ciabatta: Translating to “slipper” in Italian, which refers to its shape, ciabatta have a crisp crust but soft chewy center, making them perfect for sandwiches. I like to use a ciabatta roll in this recipe, but ciabatta also come in larger loaf sizes which can be sliced for sandwiches.

Olive Pesto: This sandwich features my chunky Olive Pesto, which is a delicious sandwich spread using green and Kalamata olives, lemon zest, garlic, thyme and oregano. It’s quick and easy to make but full of flavor.

Kale Salad: A super quick marinated kale salad using lacinato kale and accented with balsamic vinegar rounds out the sandwich filling.

A ciabatta role and serrated knife site on a wooden cutting board.

How to Make Halloumi Ciabatta

I love that this sandwich seems really fancy but takes no more than 15 minutes to make. Here’s are the steps at a high level:

Make your olive pesto: Olives, lemon zest, garlic, oregano, thyme and olive oil combine to make a delicious sandwich spread. You can do this just before you make the sandwich or even the day before.
Toast the ciabatta: Ciabattas are already a hearty sandwich bread, but giving it a light toast is just extra insurance against a soggy sandwich.
Prepare the kale salad:. Use your hands to massage together kale, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. until evenly coated slightly softened.
Assemble your sandwich: Kale salad on the bottom, then sliced halloumi and olive pesto on the top piece of bread. Press down gently to meld the ingredients together.
EAT!

A cutting board with sandwich ingredients on it. There is an open ciabatta role with olive pesto on one side and some kale and halloumi cheese on the other. A white bowl with some leftover olive pesto sits near by.

Recipe FAQs

Can I substitute a different cheese?

I love the flavor of halloumi here, but if you need to substitute I would suggest a fresh mozzarella cheese. It will have a milder flavor and softer texture but will still work well with the olive pesto and marinated kale salad.

Can I use curly kale instead of lacinato?

Yes! Curly kale will also work perfectly in this recipe.

Can I make this sandwich ahead of time?

Yes, it’s a great make ahead sandwich. One of the things I love about this recipe is that it gets better the longer it sits. Another option is you could prep both the olive pesto and kale ahead of time and assemble at lunch time.

A hand holding half of a halloumi ciabatta.

Related Recipes

Looking for another yummy recipe using halloumi? Check out my Air Fried Halloumi with Chopped Mediterranean Salad. Or if you have some leftover kale you want to use up, check out my Sausage Lentil Soup with Kale or my Sweetgreen Copycat Kale Caesar Salad.