Halloumi Blood Orange Fattoush (Printable version)

Golden fried cheese meets vibrant citrus in this satisfying vegetarian salad with crispy croutons and zesty sumac dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 7 oz halloumi cheese, sliced into 3/8 inch thick pieces
02 - 2 blood oranges, peeled and segmented
03 - 5.3 oz mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, parsley, mint)
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 2 radishes, thinly sliced

→ Croutons

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

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
14 - 1 teaspoon sumac
15 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss sourdough cubes with olive oil and sea salt. Spread on baking tray and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden and crispy. Transfer to cooling rack.
02 - Heat non-stick skillet over medium heat. Fry halloumi slices for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.
03 - Combine salad greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, radishes, and blood orange segments in large salad bowl.
04 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, sumac, black pepper, and salt in small bowl until emulsified.
05 - Add fried halloumi and sourdough croutons to salad bowl. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss to combine.
06 - Transfer to serving plates immediately while halloumi is still warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Warm halloumi gets crispy edges that actually squeak between your teeth in the best way possible.
  • Blood oranges bring a sophisticated sweetness that regular salads never quite capture, especially when paired with that pomegranate molasses tang.
  • It feels fancy enough for guests but comes together faster than you'd think, making it your secret weapon for last-minute entertaining.
02 -
  • The halloumi must be served warm to really shine, so time your frying to happen just before you toss the salad together.
  • Pomegranate molasses is absolutely worth seeking out—it transforms this from a nice salad into something you'll actually crave and remember.
03 -
  • Don't slice your halloumi too thin or it'll be impossible to flip in the pan without tearing; 1 cm thickness is your magic number.
  • Make the dressing in a mason jar if you're bringing this somewhere, then shake it up right before serving so the sumac stays suspended and visible.
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