Haloumi, Sausage and Pesto Skewers

A simple budget-conscious and yummy everyday recipe with no pretensions to sophistication, which I've adapted from an online recipe from the Australian magazine 'New Idea'. The recipe uses beef sausages, but obviously you could use your favourite sausages. You could also vary the capsicums (or peppers) and use more than one coloured pepper; and you could add a slice of onion onto the skewer. My personal preference is red peppers, but just go with your preference! Love the pesto and haloumi in this recipe! :)

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 9  thick  beef sausages
• 1 1⁄2 green capsicum or 1 1⁄2 red capsicums, cut into 24 pieces
• 24  cherry tomatoes
• 1.5 (250 g)  blocks halloumi cheese, cut into 24 cubes
•  baby rocket or   baby spinach leaves, to serve
•  shaved parmesan cheese, to serve

• Dressing

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 2  teaspoons  finely grated lemon rind
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons  traditional basil pesto

Directions

1. Cook the sausages in a saucepan of simmering water, uncovered, for 5 minutes; remove the sausages and cool for 5 minutes; cut each sausage into four even pieces.
2. To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a jug and mix well.
3. Alternating with each, thread three sausage pieces and two pieces each of capsicum, tomatoes and haloumi onto 12 skewers.
4. Heat a large oiled (preferably non-stick) pan over a high heat; add the skewers; cook in batches, brushing with dressing and turning occasionally, for about 5 minutes, or until browned and heated through.
5. Arrange the haloumi, sausage and pesto skewers on baby rocket leaves or baby spinach leaves and top with shaved parmesan to serve.
6. NOTE: Cooking the sausages in water before grilling or BBQing ensures that they don't burn on the outside before cooking all the way through. If you are using wooden skewers, pre-soak them in water.