Cumin Spiced Halloumi With Corn Tomato Slaw Recipes

CUMIN-SPICED HALLOUMI WITH CORN & TOMATO SLAW

Steps:

• Mix the lime zest and juice with the oil, thyme, turmeric, cumin, coriander and garlic together in a bowl. Add the halloumi and carefully turn it until coated - take care as it breaks easily.
• To make the slaw, mix the lime juice and zest, yogurt, coriander and chilli together, then stir in the corn, red pepper, beans, tomatoes, onion and cabbage.
• Heat a large non-stick frying pan or griddle pan and fry the cheese in batches for 1 min each side. Serve the slaw on plates with the halloumi slices on top. If you're cooking for two people, serve half of the halloumi and slaw and chill the rest for lunch another day.

SPICED GRILLED HALLOUMI

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill for two-zone cooking over medium-high heat by pouring the coals onto one half of the grill. For a gas grill, heat all of the burners to high, then turn off one of the end burners before cooking.
• While the grill is heating, arrange the tomatoes on a platter with an edge to prevent leaking and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Drizzle with olive oil. Set aside. Pat halloumi dry and drizzle with olive oil to coat on both sides. Set aside.
• In a small skillet over medium-low heat, toast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and red-pepper flakes, shaking often, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and smash with the side of your knife until cracked. (You can also do this with a mortar and pestle.) Transfer to a small bowl, add the sugar, and rub with your fingers to further crush the seeds.
• When you're ready to grill, take the halloumi, tomatoes, seeds, tongs and a tightly folded paper towel soaked with olive oil to the grill. Clean the grates with a grill brush, then oil the grates with the paper towel. Grill the cheese over the flame, flipping halfway through, until well browned and it releases easily from the gates, 4 to 6 minutes total. (For a gas grill, close the lid between flips, listening and keeping an eye out for flare-ups.) If the cheese sticks to the grates, give it another minute on the heat. Transfer the cheese to the tomatoes, then sprinkle with the seeds. Season to taste with more red-pepper flakes, sugar and olive oil.

HALLOUMI WITH CORN, CHERRY TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• In a large, preferably nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high until it thins out, about 20 seconds. Working in batches, add cheese in one layer, and cook until golden on one side, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip cheese and cook without moving until golden on the other side, about 1 minute longer. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining cheese.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pan and heat it over medium-high. Add corn, tomatoes, jalapeño, cumin seeds and salt, and cook until corn and tomatoes have softened and everything looks juicy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove pan from the heat and stir in the browned cheese, sliced onion and basil. Squeeze a lime wedge or two over everything and season with more salt and lots of black pepper. Garnish with more basil and serve immediately.

TOMATO SALAD ON CUMIN-SPICED YOGURT

Steps:

• In a small, dry saucepan over medium heat, toast the cumin seeds until they are toasted and aromatic (do not let them burn!), about 2 minutes. Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to grind into a powder. In a small bowl, mix toasted cumin with 2 tablespoons yogurt, turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon salt, until no streaks remain. Set aside.
• To make the dressing, put the garlic, herbs, yogurt, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in a food processor, and purée until smooth. With the machine running, pour the oil into the bowl in a slow steady stream. The dressing will become a thin, light green vinaigrette.
• To assemble the salad, spread the remaining 1 cup yogurt on the bottom of a large serving dish. Toss the cut tomatoes with the vinaigrette, and pile them on top of the yogurt. Pour any remaining dressing all over the tomatoes and yogurt. Finish with a sprinkle of Maldon or other crunchy salt, and serve, spooning up the yogurt, tomatoes and dressing all together.