Halloumi Blood Orange Fattoush (Printable)

Golden halloumi, blood oranges, and crispy croutons in 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss sourdough cubes in olive oil and sea salt. Spread on a baking tray and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crispy. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Fry halloumi slices for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine salad greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, radishes, and blood orange segments.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, sumac, black pepper, and salt until emulsified.
05 - Add fried halloumi and toasted croutons to the salad bowl. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately while halloumi is still warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The halloumi gets crispy and warm while everything else stays bright and cool, creating this beautiful contrast that keeps you coming back for another bite.
  • Blood oranges add a sophisticated tartness that makes you feel like you're at a Mediterranean restaurant, even if you're just in your kitchen on a Tuesday.
  • It comes together in 30 minutes, which means you can impress people without spending your whole afternoon cooking.
02 -
  • Non-stick skillet is essential for halloumi—stainless steel will grab it and tear it apart, and cast iron takes too long to heat evenly for something this delicate.
  • The pomegranate molasses is worth seeking out; it's what gives this dressing its sophisticated depth—without it, you're just making a basic vinaigrette.
03 -
  • Cut your halloumi slices exactly 1 cm thick—thinner and it cooks through too fast, thicker and the outside burns before the inside gets warm.
  • Make your dressing at least 15 minutes before you serve so the sumac has time to bloom and release its lemony flavor into the oil.
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