The Ultimate Pesto & Hummus Picnic Sandwich w/ Grilled Halloumi

Sandwiches ALWAYS are a win. There is no way you could go wrong with some good bread, a delicious spread and cheese in-between, right? Good to agree on that! And this sandwich – let me just tell you – is next level. It is not you average lunch sandwich, it is not your average grilled cheese, it is not your average hummus bread. It is next level, everything else than average.

You have some delicious, fluffy bread, creamy, tangy hummus, salty and indulgent pesto, fresh greens and tomatoes, salty and ultra-delicious grilled halloumi and rich avocado. NO way you do not like this. And you know what’s the best part about this? It is so easy to make. literally easier than scrambled eggs on toast.

What’s special about this dish?

By now you probably know that this is not your average sandwich. Here we have a combination that you do not get anywhere else. Hummus from the orient, pesto from Italy, Halloumi from Cyprus and delicious, perfect bread from Austria. And although all ingredients come from so many different places, they work in such perfect harmony together. They do all have a slight mediterranean touch, which makes the combination taste amazing.

And, this recipe is part of the NENI x UPC picnic series. Meaning, this recipe tastes best with the NENI hummus and is perfect to be taken on a picnic. Obviously, you could also eat it at home, for lunch, breakfast, dinner or brunch or any other time of the day you like.

Is this sandwich healthy?

I would definitely say it’s very nutritious. So let’s start at the very bottom layer; the bread. The bread is loaded with carbs and fibre and will not only keep your soul healthy but it’ll also keep you full of energy and full for a while. Next we have the hummus. It is full of fibre and protein and also healthy fats. Next up the pesto. Well, first of all it is loaded with a whole bunch of deliciousness. The salty- and tangyness are just a real dream. Yet, it also is beneficial nutrient-wise. The nuts and oil account for a decent amount of healthy fats and togetehr with the parmesan cheese for a healthy amount of protein too.

What do we have left now? The veggies – tomatoes and green – to provide you all the minerals, vitamins & fibre in order for you to stay full and happy and the halloumi. The halloumi is a source of protein but more than that a source of deliciousness. Lastly, avocados are a great way to get in some more healthy omega-3 fats. All in all, it definitely is nutritious!

How to make this dish?

As already mentioned – it’s as easy as scrambling eggs. All you need to do it slice up the halloumi and add it to a hot pan to fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Then we only spread the bread with hummus & pesto, add the sliced tomatoes and a few greens, the grilled halloumi, some sliced avo and the second hummused (can hummused please be a word – like buttered just with hummus?) bread on top. Voilà!

Picnic friendly

If just left like that it may very well result in a mess when eating it. So we can take some steps to prevent this from happening. This best works if we cut up some parchment paper (like 4-5cm thick) and wrap it tightly around the sandwich. To fix this, we can wrap a string around it and make a knot. This way it is tightly packed together and does not fall apart when eating.

All in all it needs to be said, that this is an incredibly delicious and easy to make dish and a real MUST for every picnic! Everyone who has tried it so far LOVES it – so I am convinced you’ll do the same 🙂 I really hope this helps you enjoy the weather a bit more and to make use of all those sunny days!

Have fun cooking,
Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière