Pan fried Halloumi cheese with olives, shallots & almonds
Serves 8
Fried Halloumi is firm and slightly crispy on the outside, creamy and salty on the inside. Mediterranean inspired, this dish is the perfect dish for parties served 'family-style.'
Ingredients
- ½ cup almonds
- Olive oil
- 2 large shallots thinly sliced
- Kosher salt
- ½ cup dried apricots chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 lb halloumi cheese
- Flour as needed
- ½ cup olives halved (kalamata, castelvetrano, etc.)
- Crackers or toasted bread
Instructions
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Crackers or toasted bread
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Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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Spread the almonds onto a baking sheet. Roast for about 8-10 minutes until golden. Let cool slightly. Use a kitchen towel to rub the skins off (it’s okay if some stay on). Roughly chop the hazelnuts and set aside. Lower the oven to 300°F.
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Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the skillet. Add the shallots and a pinch of salt. Let sauté until softened, caramelized, and somewhat crispy, stirring often. Stir in the apricots, honey, and red wine vinegar. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Cook for a minute or so until slightly reduced. Turn off the heat and set aside.
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Slice the halloumi cheese into ½” rounds. Toss with enough flour just to coat the slices on all sides.
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Heat another skillet over medium heat. Add enough olive oil to come up the sides about a ¼ of an inch. Once the oil is hot, work in batches to fry the halloumi cheese until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side (shake off any excess flour as you add the cheese to the pan).
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Remove the halloumi cheese and season with a pinch of salt. Keep warm in the oven until the rest of the cheese is fried.
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Meanwhile, heat the shallot mixture back over medium heat. Stir in the almonds and olives. Cook another minute or so.
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Serve the halloumi with the shallot mixture spooned over top. Add a drizzle of olive oil to finish. Serve with crackers or toasted bread.