Denise says:

I love Halloumi cheese as it has quite a unique texture. It is an ideal cheese for cooking as it keeps its shape brilliantly even when hot. This is a colourful combination of salad ingredients, which is served with hot cous cous! This is an ideal recipe for a light lunch or healthy supper any time of the year.

Halloumi cheese is traditionally a Cypriot sheep’s milk cheese, flavoured with shreds of mint. It has a milky, slightly salty taste and a rubbery texture. Halloumi only comes into its own when it is cooked. Slices of Halloumi cheese are delicious char-grilled or fried and eaten with salads. Should you not be able to get Halloumi, mozzarella is a good alternative although its texture is quite different. The recipe would still taste equally divine!

To vary the presentation place the cous cous in a large ring cutter, then layer with the cheese, tomato and olive mixture and finally the herbs. Remove the ring when you serve.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients:

250g cous cous
2 tablespoons vegetable stock powder
~
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 red onions – peeled and finely sliced
250g packet Halloumi cheese – drained and thinly sliced
300g baby plum or cherry tomatoes – cut in half
3 cloves garlic – finely chopped
85g black and green olives – pitted
15g each fresh parsley and basil
2 tablespoons capers
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnish: Lemon wedges/ Sprigs of basil and parsley

Method

1) Put the cous cous and stock powder in a bowl. Pour over the boiling water, cover with cling film and leave to stand for 5 minutes.
2) Heat a tablespoon of the oil in a shallow pan. Sauté the red onions for 2- 3 minutes or until softened. Remove and using the same pan, fry the halloumi cheese slices for 3 minutes. Set aside.
3) Add the chopped garlic, tomatoes and olives and sauté for a further 2 minutes.
4) Finely chop the herbs and stir this into the cous cous. Add the capers and tomato mixture.
5) Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

To serve the stylish way: Garnish with sprigs of basil and parsley and lemon wedges.
Tagged in: Basil, Cous Cous, Dairy, Everyday Dining, Family Cooking, Greek, Halloumi Cheese, Lemons, Olive Oil, Olives, Parsley, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Vegetarian