SPICE-CRUSTED HALLOUMI WITH FIG AND PISTACHIO CHUTNEYYum Gluten Free

Spice Crusted Halloumi with Fig and Pistachio Chutney

{ WHETHER IT’S A MEAT-FREE MONDAY OR YOU’RE JUST WANTING A KILLER HALLOUMI RECIPE, THIS IS SERIOUSLY TO DIE FOR!! }

Contributor: Anjum Anands

{ INGREDIENTS }

FOR THE CHUTNEY

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1/4 tsp chilli powder, or to taste

1/2 small onion, chopped

8g root ginger, peeled weight, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated

100g dried figs, finely chopped

3.5 tbsp red wine vinegar, or to taste

2 tsp caster sugar, or to taste

1/3 tsp garam masala

1/3 tsp roasted ground cumin

small fistful or pistachios

FOR THE HALLOUMI

250g halloumi, cut into 1-1.5cm slices

1 tbsp panch phoran (Indian five-spice)

2 tsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3/4 tbsp lemon juice

salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 handfuls of salad leaves

{ METHOD }

For the chutney, heat the oil in a small non-stick saucepan. Add the fennel seeds and chilli powder, cook for 20 seconds, then add the onion and sauté for two or three minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for another minute or until the garlic is colouring a little. Add the figs, vinegar, sugar and remaining spices along with a splash of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and cook until the figs are soft and the whole thing has come together. Taste and adjust the seasoning, seeing if you would like more sugar, vinegar or chilli powder. Blend half the chutney together until smooth, then return it to the pan and mix it with the chunky chutney. Stir in the pistachios and set aside.

Cut the halloumi into long 1cm thick slices. Sprinkle a little of the panch phoran on one side. Heat a pan and add the oil. Add the halloumi spice side down and cook until golden on the edges (around one or two minutes). Flip over and cook this side in the same way.

Whisk together the extra virgin oil and the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Toss the salad leaves gently in this dressing and serve with the cheese and some fig chutney on the side.

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