Halloumi Blood Orange Fattoush (Printable)

Golden fried halloumi with blood oranges and sumac dressing

# Components:

→ Salad Base

01 - 7 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced
02 - 2 blood oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds
03 - 7 ounces mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, parsley, mint)
04 - 1/2 cucumber, sliced
05 - 7 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 4 radishes, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Croutons

08 - 2 thick slices sourdough bread, cut into cubes
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - Pinch of sea salt

→ Sumac Vinaigrette

11 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon ground sumac
15 - 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Frying

18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss sourdough cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp, turning once halfway through.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, ground sumac, pomegranate molasses, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add halloumi slices and fry for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed salad greens, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, radishes, and red onion.
05 - Add blood orange slices, warm fried halloumi, and toasted sourdough croutons to the salad. Drizzle with sumac vinaigrette and toss gently to combine. Serve immediately while halloumi is warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The warm salty halloumi against sweet blood oranges creates this perfect sweet salty moment that people immediately obsess over
  • Crispy sourdough croutons stay crunchy for hours, so you can actually make this ahead without the sad soggy salad situation
02 -
  • Halloumi releases water as it fries, so pat the slices dry before cooking and do not crowd the pan or you will end up boiling instead of frying
  • Sumac varies in intensity by brand, so start with less if you are unsure and add more to taste rather than overwhelming the dish
03 -
  • Pat your halloumi dry with paper towels before frying to get that golden crust instead of steaming the cheese
  • Let the dressing sit for at least 15 minutes before using so the sumac has time to bloom and release its flavor
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