Sesame-Crusted Fried Halloumi with Rocket Salad
What better way to eat traditional Cypriot halloumi than studded with sesame seeds, fried and served hot, drizzled with honey on a bed of peppery rocket sprinkled with pine nuts and jewelled with pomegranate seeds? Read on for the recipe, shared with kind permission of Constantinou Bros Hotels.
Servings 4
Calories 540kcal
Ingredients
For the sesame-crusted halloumi
- 2 tbsp all-purpose or plain flour on a plate
- 1 egg beaten
- ⅓ cup sesame seeds on a plate
- 200 g Cypriot halloumi cheese sliced to around 1½-2cm thick
- 3-4 cups vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp honey
For the dressing
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp shallot chopped
- 2 tbsp honey
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
For the salad
- 5 cups rocket washed and dried
- 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- 1 tbsp pine nuts optional
Instructions
For the sesame-crusted halloumi
- Take the halloumi slices and dip them into the flour one by one, ensuring they're fully coated before shaking off any excess and placing them onto a clean plate.
- Dip each flour-coated halloumi slice into the beaten egg, then roll it in the sesame seeds, ensuring each slice is fully coated.
- Pour the oil into a large non-stick frying pan (aiming for a depth of around half an inch) and heat the pan over a medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add the halloumi slices one at a time, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for around 20 seconds to one minute,, turning from time to time until the sesame seeds turn golden brown.
- Transfer the fried sesame-crusted halloumi slices onto kitchen towel to drain off any excess oil.
- Before you mix the halloumi with the salad to serve, drizzle a little honey over it.
For the dressing
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking rapidly as you go to emulsify the mixture. Cover and set aside.
For the salad
- Combine all salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.
- Pour a small amount of dressing over the rocket leaves, lightly coating them. Prior to serving, sprinkle a handful of pine nuts and pomegranate seeds over the top. Serve with the dressing on the side.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 540kcal