Rituals. We all have them. Some of us wake up at the crack of dawn to meditate. Some of us won’t speak in the morning until we’ve had several sips of piping hot coffee. Others brush their hair 100 times before going to bed. Whatever it may be, we all do little things to keep us grounded.
I have a little weekend ritual: tea and puzzles. I roll over in the morning, bundle up in my sweats, stumble to grab the Sunday paper, make a cup of tea, and prepare to be entertained for an hour.
But before the puzzles comes the coupons. You may not know this, but I’m a huge coupon clipper. Back in the day, we got coupon booklets from big chain supermarkets like Safeway in the mail every month. You won’t believe how excited I got when those booklets arrived. I’d spend 30 minutes pouring over that 40-something page booklet, circling and clipping coupons that looked good for the family. Then, I waved those coupons in Mama Lin’s face, telling her that she needed to buy paper towels that month so she could save $3 on a 6-pack.
It’s tough to break old habits. To this day, I still pour over pages of coupons in the Sunday paper just to find that 55-cent savings on my next bag of nuts.
After the coupons come the puzzles. Crosswords, jumble, sudoku, cryptograms—anything that involves filling in blank spaces, I’m on it. To sustain my energy for this hour-long puzzle bonanza, I need a good, hearty breakfast. Nothing says a hearty breakfast like smoked salmon with grilled halloumi and a rich smattering of avocado on sourdough toast. Am I right?
Truth be told, I was a late boomer to smoked salmon. The soft texture threw me off for the longest time. But a few years ago, I had it on some toast with eggs, and it awakened my senses to the beauty that is smoked salmon. Now, I can’t get enough of it.
Boy, did this toast nourish my brain cells while I was working on my puzzles last Sunday!
Smoked Salmon and Grilled Halloumi Avocado Toast
Ingredients
- 4 half-inch slices of halloumi
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 slices of sourdough bread
- 1 small avocado
- dukkah, optional
- 3 oz smoked salmon
- 1 persian cucumber, thinly sliced and cut in half
- aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Using a brush, spread the olive oil on all sides of the halloumi. One teaspoon of olive oil should be enough. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, lay all 4 slices of halloumi on the pan. Grill the first side for about 3 minutes, then flip it over and grill the other side for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Toast the bread. Mash the avocado, and spread half of the mix on each slice of bread. Sprinkle some dukkah on the avocado if you like.
- Layer half of smoked salmon on each slice. Then, layer the sliced cucumber and grilled halloumi on top. Sprinkle pepper flakes if you want some spice.
- Best served immediately!
Looking for more fancy toast ideas?
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
Grilled halloumi = my favorite thing ever. It’s so good. I can just taste how amazing it would be with salmon and avocado. Sounds like a great morning ritual! Never would have pegged you as a coupon clipper!
Lisa says
Anything that involves grilling cheese is just magical in my book! YES I’m totally a coupon clipper! I get soo bummed when I buy things at the supermarket and find out later that I left the coupons at home!
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon says
Is it a sin that I still haven’t had grilled halloumi? I love this toast idea!
I also love imagining you sitting around on Sunday, clipping coupons + puzzling between bites of this magnificent toast. I could definitely learn a thing or two about couponing – I never feel like I find many in mailers!
Lisa says
Not a sin, but get on it, lady!!
Hah, we can totally have a coupon-clipping session—with lots of food involved!
KalynsKitchen says
Oh my word, home run on this one! I’m a huge fan of Halloumi!
Lisa says
Thanks, Kalyn!!
Cookin Canuck says
My Sunday morning ritual is tea and a good book, but now I want to make this recipe part of every weekend! What a fantastic combination of flavors.
Lisa says
Thanks, Dara!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
This salmon lover has never had smoked salmon :O
Lisa says
You should definitely give it a try and let me know what you think of it!
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire says
i was never a fan of smoked salmon either. Even now I can only have it if it’s sliced thinly and in small quantities. I ADORE haloumi though! This sounds like an amazing breakfast. I just wish I knew where to find it in a store near me.
Lisa says
Smoked salmon is DEFINITELY an acquired taste and only something I grew into later on in life! Oh no! I wish halloumi was more readily available for you! I don’t know if this helps, but I got mine from Whole Foods.
Elizabeth @ Enjoy Every Bite says
Salmon for breakfast? Why have I never done this before!? Looks amazing!!
Lisa says
Once in a while, I get into this zone where I only want savory things for breakfast! Smoked salmon is just the perfect way for me to satisfy those cravings!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
The fanciest of the fancy toast, indeed!!! oh my gawd, Lisa, I love this! and your Sunday ritual sounds great! I wish I were a coupon clipper! My sunday mornings are always so rushed and hurried . . I always try to wake up earlier than everyone else so I can have some relaxing alone time but that doesn’t always work out 😛
Lisa says
Oh man, I can just imagine how busy your mornings are!
Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says
Don’t talk to me in the morning until I’ve had two cups of coffee 🙂 And yay for coupons- I love them too. This breakfast looks incredible, that halloumi cheese is calling my name!!
Lisa says
Thanks, Sherri! And yay, I’m not the only person who loves coupons!
Joanne says
I would totally get my coupon on, but they’re almost always for processed foods that I would never buy anyway! Arrgh.
This toast in the morning would be breakfast perfection. I’m sure of it.
Lisa says
I know what you mean, I go through SO MANY pages of coupons before I find one for nuts or chocolate.
Sarah | Broma Bakery says
My grandmother is a puzzle fanatic, too. She just can’t get enough of them! I’m sure having a piece of this gorgeous toast would be a perfect accompaniment to her daily ritual 🙂
Lisa says
Yes, totally!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician says
Gorgeous photos, I love the staging! This toast looks really tasty, I love halloumi. And your other toasts, wow, that grown-up PB&J is a stunner!
Lisa says
Thanks, Sonali!!