Garlic Prawn and Haloumi Skewers

Summer means sand between the toes, ocean swims, long daylight hours and as many easy meals on the bbq as you can get your husband to cook! I love cooking on the bbq, it brings you outdoors, the smells are incredible and wiping down the bbq at the end sure beats washing up the pots and pans every time.

In my cookbook Naked Food there is a whole chapter devoted to 'on the bbq', giving you simple, healthy and tasty ideas, you can prepare quickly and cook with ease. Here is one of my faves step by step:

GARLIC PRAWN AND HALOUMI SKEWERS
A family favourite, these skewers were always a popular menu item on new year’s day. When our children were small we found it too hard to party all night to see in the new year, so instead we celebrated with a bbq with good friends on new years day!

serves 6
GF
what you need
1kg green prawns (medium king or banana)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
180g haloumi
12 cherry tomatoes
freshly ground black pepper and lemon wedges, to serve

what you do
1. Peel the prawns, leaving the tails on. Using a small sharp knife or scissors, cut down the back of the prawn from top to tail and remove waste tract. Combine the prawns, garlic and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
2. Soak 12 bamboo skewers in cold water for 15 minutes, to prevent them burning while cooking. Cut the haloumi into pieces about 3cm x 2cm x 1cm.
3. Thread 2 prawns and a piece of haloumi alternately onto each skewer, and finish with a cherry tomato.
4. Preheat the bbq on high heat. Place the skewers onto the bbq plate, making sure to space them well apart to avoid overcrowding and stewing the prawns (cook in two batches if necessary). Cook for 2-3 minutes each side, until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Transfer to a serving platter, season with pepper as desired and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

haloumi is a soft or semi-hard Cypriot cheese with a salty flavour, made from either sheep or goats’ milk. It has a high melting point and so can easily be fried, grilled or barbequed. It is a good source of calcium and protein. It can be soaked in milk to remove some of the saltiness prior to use.   
© Jane Grover - NAKED FOOD - the way food was meant to be