Description
A quick baked halloumi dish with roasted apricots, drizzled with sweet honey and spicy harissa. The halloumi becomes golden and soft while the apricots turn jammy, creating a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 block halloumi cheese (about 225 g / 8 oz)
- 6 apricots, sliced (or 1 small can, drained)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 scallion (spring onion), thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice the apricots in half, remove the pits, and cut into thick slices.
- Place the apricot slices in a small baking dish and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.
- Toss to coat and roast for about 10 minutes until slightly softened.
- While the apricots roast, place the halloumi block on a cutting board and make diagonal criss-cross cuts across the surface without cutting all the way through.
- Remove the apricots from the oven and place the halloumi block in the center of the dish.
- Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the halloumi, rubbing it gently into the cuts.
- Switch the oven to grill (broil) on high heat.
- Place the dish under the grill and cook for about 8 minutes until the halloumi becomes golden and slightly charred.
- In a small bowl mix the harissa paste, honey, and lemon juice.
- Remove the halloumi from the oven and drizzle the honey harissa sauce over the top.
- Garnish with thyme leaves and curled scallions.
- Serve warm directly from the dish.
Notes
- If the apricots are very ripe, they can be baked together with the halloumi instead of pre-roasting.
- Peaches, plums, or nectarines can be used instead of apricots.
- Sriracha or chili paste can replace harissa for a similar spicy flavor.
- Serve with crusty bread, flatbread, or hummus for a complete snack or appetizer.
- Halloumi is best served warm since it firms up as it cools.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
