Halloumi Blood Orange Fattoush (Printable Version)

Golden halloumi and blood oranges with crisp croutons in zesty sumac dressing

# What You Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 7 oz halloumi cheese, sliced
02 - 2 blood oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds
03 - 7 oz mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, parsley, mint)
04 - 1/2 cucumber, sliced
05 - 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 4 radishes, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Croutons

08 - 2 thick slices sourdough bread, cut into cubes
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - Pinch of sea salt

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon ground sumac
15 - 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Frying

18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss sourdough cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp, turning once halfway through.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, ground sumac, pomegranate molasses, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add halloumi slices and fry 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced radishes, and thinly sliced red onion.
05 - Add blood orange slices, warm fried halloumi, and sourdough croutons to the greens mixture.
06 - Drizzle prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately while halloumi remains warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The halloumi gets this incredible golden crust while staying creamy inside, which honestly never gets old no matter how many times you make it.
  • Blood oranges and sumac create a brightness that makes you feel like you're eating something sophisticated without any fussy technique.
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for when you want to impress without spending your whole afternoon cooking.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few minutes before serving or the croutons will turn into crouton soup, a mistake I made exactly once.
  • If blood oranges aren't available, regular oranges work fine, though they won't have the same striking color or complex flavor notes.
03 -
  • Blood oranges have a thicker skin than regular oranges, so take your time peeling and make sure to remove all the bitter white pith underneath.
  • If your halloumi starts sticking, your skillet isn't hot enough, so crank the heat slightly and your next slice will release easily and brown beautifully.
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