There is something so compelling about this squeaky cheese, and my fridge is stocked with it at all times. Most regularly I treat it as vegetarian bacon, dry-fried in a hot pan then dolloped with a peeled, soft-boiled egg (I’d rather peel an egg, even when it’s hurty- hot, than poach one). But the idea for this recipe came to me one evening when I felt the need to counter the siren call of the halloumi’s saltiness with some sweet-and-heat. I use a copper pixie-pan for the quick sauce – which takes all of 4 minutes – but if you don’t have one, just make more and keep it afterwards in a sealed jar, heating up what you need on further occasions. (Recipe courtesy Simply Nigella)
Ingredients: [‘red chilies’, ‘honey’, ‘lime’, ‘halloumi cheese’, ‘salad leaves’, ‘extra virgin olive oil’]
Quantity of Ingredients: [“3 fresh red chilies”,”2 tablespoons runny honey”,”1 lime, halved “,”225 g block halloumi cheese”,””,” salad leaves, of your choice “,” extra virgin olive oil, to taste “]
Number of Servings: 2
Steps: [‘Slice 2 of the chillies, leaving the seeds in, then de-seed the third and chop it into fine dice (this is for full-on fieriness; you may de-seed more cautiously if you wish) and add to a small pan – ideally, the sort sold as a butter-melting pan – along with the honey, and squeeze in 1 teaspoon of lime juice from one half of the lime. Put the pan on the smallest ring on the hob and bring to a bubble, then turn the heat down low, and let it foam away for 4 minutes. Stir frequently and do not leave the pan unattended, otherwise it will foam over the hob. Remove from the heat.’, ‘Before you turn to the halloumi, arrange a few salad leaves on 2 plates, and pour as much or as little oil over them as you want. Cut the un-juiced half of the lime into wedges, and pop one on each plate if so wished.’, ‘Slice the halloumi block into 8 pieces, and heat a cast-iron or heavy-based frying pan. When it’s hot, add the slices and cook them – without any oil in the pan – for 30–60 seconds until they are tiger-striped underneath, then turn the slices over and cook until the underside is patchily bronzed, too.’, ‘Remove the halloumi to the salad-lined plates and spoon the lipstick-red pieces of chilli in their honeyed glaze over the cheese. Eat immediately. Not hard to do.’, ‘STORE NOTE: Transfer cooled leftover chilli sauce to a jar, then seal and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks.’]