Pesto Hummus Sandwich with Halloumi

This Pesto Hummus Sandwich with halloumi is loaded with flavor and completely vegetarian. It’s hearty and quick to make for a lunch that’s far from boring.

Ever since we first discovered halloumi cheese at a coffee shop in Brooklyn a few years ago, it has been one of my all time favorite cheeses. Not only is it high protein, but when you fry it, it doesn’t melt, but instead gets softened on the middle with a crispy outer shell. We love it as a great vegetarian protein add to sandwiches like this one.

This is a Pesto Hummus Sandwich with halloumi cheese and roasted red peppers is the kind of simple but flavor-packed lunch that feels like something we’d order at a sandwich shop. The creamy, high protein pesto hummus lays the foundation, while the smoky-sweet roasted red peppers add brightness. Then you add the pan-seared halloumi, which brings such an added umami flavor. Everything comes together in layers of rich, fresh, and savory flavors that taste indulgent yet light enough for an everyday meal.

This sandwich is also incredibly simple—easy to prep in advance and customize to your taste. You can roast the peppers and sear the halloumi ahead of time, then simply assemble when you’re ready to eat. Swap in different breads, add greens like arugula, or drizzle with balsamic for a personal twist. Whether packed for lunch or served warm at home, this sandwich proves that a few high-quality ingredients can create a meal that’s both convenient and truly restaurant-worthy.

If you want more tasty sandwich recipes like this one, you’ll love my Halloumi and Zucchini Sandwich and my Spicy Tuna Burger.

Ab’s Tip: Did you know halloumi is the only cheese you can sear or grill? This is what makes it unique! It’s mild in flavor and so delicious.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• It’s a hearty vegetarian recipe. This sandwich is entirely vegetarian, without skimping on flavor or protein. This is a great way to get more protein in a healthy, nourishing way.
• Easy to customize and no more boring lunches. If you are looking for a healthy, satisfying way to switch up your lunch routine, this sandwich will do the trick. You can experiment with different breads, greens or dressings. I like to add a drizzle of balsamic.
• Great to make for a crowd. This sandwich is great for a back to school lunch, but also works great for large groups as many of the components can be prepped ahead.

Ingredients

• Sourdough bread: Sourdough is almost always my go-to for lunch sandwiches because the flavor is good, it’s easy to toast quickly and its fun to make at home.
• Roasted red peppers: You can make these from scratch, but I love buying store-bought for ease. They bring such a smoky-sweet flavor to this sandwich.
• Red onion: Red onion adds a crisp bite and subtle sharpness that cuts through rich flavors, bringing balance and freshness to any sandwich.
• Halloumi cheese: Halloumi is perfect on a sandwich because it sears to a golden crust while staying chewy and salty, adding both texture and bold flavor.
• Arugula: Arugula is always my goto green for slightly bitter, rich taste that compliments pesto perfectly.
• Pesto Hummus: I love homemade pesto, but adding chickpeas adds more protein and a level of creaminess.

How to make this Pesto Hummus Sandwich with Halloumi

1. Make your pesto: In a food processor, combine chickpeas, basil leaves, olive oil, garlic, lemon, pine nuts, parmesan.

2. , Blend until combined. Taste and adjust accordingly.

3. Slice halloumi and add to a skillet. Cook on medium heat for about 5 min per side or until it gets a nice golden brown. No need to add any oil to the pan, halloumi can cook on its own.

4. Coat bread in olive oil and add to same pan and cook for 2-3 min per side. Add pesto and halloumi.

5. Add hummus pesto to toast, followed by halloumi, sliced red onion, arugula, red pepper and red pepper flakes. Enjoy! 

Expert Tips

• Cooking halloumi the right way. Halloumi is super easy to prepare, slices only needs a few minutes per side on medium heat in a skillet. What is so magical about halloumi, is one of the only cheeses you can sear, giving it a beautiful browned outer shell, with a soft delicious middle. You can add olive oil to the pan if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. Halloumi has liquid that will allow it to cook on its own.
• Feel free to personalize. Pesto is one of those condiments that is so versatile. You could add pistachios instead of pine nuts or arugula instead of basil. Additionally, since this sandwich is fully vegetarian, feel free to lean into other veggie adds like cucumbers or tomatoes.
• Save some time, use store bought pesto and/or hummus. Instead of adding chickpeas to the homemade pesto, you could easily buy storebought hummus and pesto and add a layer of each to the sandwich.

Storage & Make Ahead

The pesto hummus can make the sandwich soggy if you store in the fridge for longer than a day or so. To avoid soggy bread, we would opt for assembling the sandwiches as you need them, and prepping the ingredients ahead of time.

Instead of storing already made sandwiches, store individual components and assemble as needed. The sourdough goes back in its bag and can be out at room temperature for a few days. The pesto hummus can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

FAQs

More Delicious Sandwiches

• Fried Eggplant Sandwich
• Vegetable & Cottage Cheese Sandwich
• Italian Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
• Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese