Halloumi with Tomatoes and White Beans
Time: 45 minutes | Serves: 4 Nature: Neutral | Flavor: Sour, Sweet
Recipe Source: Nargisse Benkabbou at NY Times Cooking
Ingredients
- Olive oil, as needed
- 1 pound (450g) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 TBL parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano or thyme
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 can (15oz) cannellini, butter, or navy beans
- 1 block (250g) halloumi, cut into 1/4 in slices
- 1/2 lemon
Directions
Build the Base: Set broiler in oven to high with rack 5 inches from heat. In a large, ovenproof pan over medium heat, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil with tomatoes, garlic, parsley, honey, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes soften and release their juices, about 10 minutes.
Add the Beans: Stir in the beans and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
Bring in the Cheese: Arrange halloumi slices on top of the tomato-bean mixture in the pan. Transfer pan to the oven. Broil until halloumi is golden and crispy on top, about 5 minutes, depending on the oven's broiler strength.
Finish and Serve: Drizzle generously with olive oil, squeeze the lemon half over the pan and add a light drizzle of honey. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with a nice, crusty sourdough.
Consider Complimentary Additions
Think about vegetables that could work well in this combination: marinated artichoke hearts, Castelvetrano olives, or cauliflower. You could expand the size and scope of this dish to be even more vegetable forward and have more textures and flavors that all work together. Just don't forget to adjust your salt and pepper.
Using Cheeses That Don't Melt
Halloumi is a type of Mediterranean cheese famous in the cuisine of the Levant for its ability to fry golden brown while keeping its shape. Part of a class of cheeses that have a firm, "squeaky" texture that includes Indian paneer and Latin queso blanco, halloumi can be found in many specialty grocery stores but also at some big box stores like Costco. Add this remarkable item into your pantry rotation for a way to make a quick, savory meal and think of other dishes that could benefit from a burst of salty, crispy, toothsome cheese.