Halloumi Orzo Bowl with Roast Veg

Written by Gabi Meltzer, Registered Dietician, March 2025

Planning, prepping and cooking can take time, and let’s be honest, many of us struggle to make the time! Any recipe that takes longer than an hour to get on the table, may not be realistic for most people during a busy week. 

This recipe is simple, balanced and so delicious! Perfect for a weeknight meal for busy people who still want to prioritise nutrition and want to cook more at home. 

The only thing in this recipe that takes a bit more time is roasting the vegetables. Some solutions could be to air fry them to make it quicker, or to make these beforehand to heat up for dinner time. It may help with reducing prep time to even just chop up the veg beforehand so that you can turn on the oven and put them in ASAP after work. 

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 50 minutes

Total time: 60 mins

Serves 3-4

Ingredients 

4 Bell peppers (try aim for a variety of colours), quartered and seeds removed

2 Brinjals, diced

5 small baby marrows, halved and then sliced

1 Red onion, cut into quarters 

1-2 Tbsp olive oil 

1 tsp dried oregano

Sea salt and black pepper 

For the yoghurt sauce

½ cup plain greek yoghurt 

½ cup finely chopped dill

1 lemon, juiced

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tbsp finely chopped mint

1 tbsp honey

1 clove garlic, minced 

Sea salt and pepper to taste

2 cups Orzo 

320g Halloumi , sliced 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Spread all the chopped vegetables onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper, drizzle with olive oil, season with oregano, salt and pepper. Roast until soft and charred, about 45-50 minutes. Check halfway and toss.

2. Make the yoghurt sauce, by adding all the yoghurt ingredients to a mixing bowl. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.

3. Cook the orzo according to packet instructions, until al dente (it cooks the same as pasta, but for about 15 minutes). Drain, rinse and set aside.

4. Heat a pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the sliced halloumi and cook for about 2 minutes a side until golden. Remove the excess oil by placing it on roller towel after frying. 

5. Serve the halloumi on a bed of the orzo and roast veg, topped with the yoghurt sauce. Enjoy :) 

Note: 

1. You can also make extra sauce to add to other meals- it's delicious with most foods and adds a protein and calcium boost! 

2. You can use any vegetables you like to roast! Mix it up for diversity. This is just a more Mediterranean mix. 

For personalised guidance on finding a more positive relationship with food, exercise, and your body, book a consultation here: https://www.gabimeltzerdietician.com/book-online.