Green salad with fresh figs, crispy bacon and grilled Haloumi cheese

This is a delicious and very seasonal salad! The sweetness of the fresh figs goes perfectly well with the crunchy bacon and chewy cheese and makes this filling salad a nice idea even for a light meal or a first dish

Recipe of Andreas Lagos,

from "Gastronomos" magazine of "KATHIMERINI" newspaper

Ingredients (for 4 people):
1 large Romaine lettuce, roughly chopped (rinsed and well dried)
1 bunch of rocket, roughly chopped
12 thin slices of streaky bacon
360gr. of Haloumi cheese, cut in 8 slices
60 ml of olive oil
1 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
6 fresh figs, well rinsed and cut in halves (variety of your choice)
pinch of salt
black pepper
pomegranate arils for garnishing (optional and better when in season)

Method:

Warm a large non-stick frying pan in high heat. Put the bacon slices (without any oil) and cook until they are well crispy on both sides. Transfer on kitchen paper and leave to drain their fat. Then break into medium pieces.

In the same pan add the 1 tbsp of oil and cook the Haloumi cheese for about 1-2 minutes or until they are lightly coloured on both sides.

Put the lettuce and the rocket in a large bowl and add the oil, the vinegar, the salt and the pepper. Mix thoroughly with two spoons.

Arrange the salad on a serving platter and garnish on top with the bacon, the cheese and the figs.

Serve immediately along with toasted bread.