Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Island Salad

This one? This salad smacked me out of a foggy Tuesday slump. The Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Island Salad. Sounds kind of dreamy, right? It is. There’s something weirdly magical about biting into juicy peaches while crunchy bits of halloumi snap beneath your teeth. Sweet. Salty. Crisp. Cool. I wasn’t expecting much—just needed lunch—but wow. It turned into a bit of a moment. (inspired by Jamie Oliver)

Ingredients Needed

• 1 cucumber
• 2 pittas
• 1 tin (415g) sliced peaches in juice
• 120g salad leaves (go wild, mix it up)
• 60g halloumi

How To Make Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Island Salad

1. Start With the Cucumber: I grabbed the cucumber first. One of those long ones with the waxy skin still on. Used a peeler, dragged it down the length to get those delicate ribbons. Like wide green confetti. Stopped when I hit the seedy belly—nobody wants the wet part. Piled them into a bowl, no salt yet.
2. Toast the Pittas: Threw the pittas into the toaster and waited until they puffed a little and the edges darkened. Not burnt. Just… almost there. Sliced them up into strips once they cooled a bit, then circled them around my plates. Like edible frames.
3. Peach Time: Drained the peaches with a spoon pressed firm into the tin’s lip. Saved a splash of juice. Rough chop. Into the pan they went with that little drizzle of juice. High heat. They sizzled immediately. Stirred once or twice until they softened—edges started caramelizing just slightly. The smell—sticky, warm, like summer was pretending to come early.
4. Now for That Halloumi Web: Wiped the pan down with a paper towel. Grated half the halloumi right into the dry pan. Spread it out thin with the back of a spoon. The sizzling was intense—almost angry. In a minute or two, it went golden, crisping up like lace. Slid it out. Did the same with the other half. My kitchen smelled like a grill on a beach holiday.
5. Put It All Together: Threw the leaves down first. Tossed on the cucumber like ribbons in a breeze. Scattered the peaches—still warm, still fragrant. Broke the halloumi crisps roughly and tucked them in like little golden treasures. Pittas leaned up against the edges. And that was it. A meal. A story. Something that made my day feel different.

Why I Love This Recipe

I didn’t even mean to like it this much. Made it alone, standing in socks by the window. But then the way the peaches clashed with the salty cheese? Unexpected joy. Like finding a note you forgot you wrote. It’s weirdly complete for a five-ingredient thing. And so fast. I’ve made it three more times since.

Recipe Tips

• Fresh halloumi is your friend. Pre-grated just doesn’t sing.
• Let the peaches sit a bit in the pan. That stickiness? That’s the flavor.
• Get those pittas crisp—almost like crackers.
• Peeler, knife for cucumber. You’ll thank me.
• Halloumi webs need room. Don’t cram them.

How To Store This Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Island Salad

• At Room Temperature: Eh, eat it fresh. It’s not a picnic salad. But it’ll hold for an hour if you really need it to.
• In the Fridge: Store components separately. Salad in one tub, cheese crisps in another. Pittas in a paper bag. Two days max before things go sad.
• In the Freezer: Please don’t. Just… don’t.

Reheating

• Back in the pan, no oil, medium heat. Flip once. That’s it. Pittas go into the oven or toaster. Keep it simple.

Let’s Answer a Few Questions!

Can I use fresh peaches instead of canned?
Yeah, if they’re ripe. Maybe splash a bit of OJ in when you warm them.

What if I don’t have halloumi?
Use paneer or firm feta. Texture won’t match, but it’ll still taste good.

Vegan version?
Sure. Grab a plant-based cheese that crisps. They’re getting better.

Do I have to grate the halloumi?
Yes. Trust me. That web? That’s the whole point.

Need more protein?
Add grilled chicken. Or toss in chickpeas. Whatever makes it work for you.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 361
• Carbs: 39.8g
• Protein: 15.9g
• Fat: 15.2g
• Sugar: 12.3g
• Fibre: 4.1g
• Sodium: 1.3g

Try More Recipes:

• Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Pomegranate Salad
• Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Salmon Nicoise Salad
• Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Carrot Pomegranate Salad