This is, probably, one of my absolute favourite meals I have ever made. Not only does it look glorious (excuse self-praising) but it is absolutely delicious. A vegetarian fish and chips if you will; a real rival to that classic seaside dish using halloumi instead of fish. With my recipe there is no crispy batter, however, the outside of the halloumi gets all crispy and wonderful so you really don’t miss it. Plus, as there’s no deep fat frying involved it’s much more suited to a weeknight dinner as there’s no faffing around.
Ingredients
You will need (for two):
- 4-5 red skinned potatoes, cut into wedges
- Oil for roasting (I use rapeseed)
- Salt and Pepper
- 400g frozen peas
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 block halloumi, sliced (I used High Weald Dairy’s Organic Halloumi)
Method
Put the potatoes into a pan and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Boil for 5 minutes and then drain well.
Preheat an oven to 180C.
Drizzle over a good glug of oil and some salt and pepper and mix everything together well. Tip onto a baking tray and roast for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
While the wedges are cooking make the mushy peas. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and tip the peas in. Bring the pan back to the boil and cook the peas for 2-3 minutes then drain.
Mash the peas with the mint, butter, a little salt and plenty of pepper. You can mash to the texture you like; I like to leave mine a little chunky.
Get a frying pan onto a medium heat and add the halloumi slices. Dry fry on both sides until golden brown and crispy.
Serve everything together along with some malt vinegar and lemon wedges.
The saltiness of the halloumi with the sweetness of the peas; the mint in both ties them together perfectly. A little squeeze of lemon over the halloumi to give it a bit of zing. Soft, fluffy potato wedge middles with golden, crispy outsides slathered in malt vinegar and unceremoniously dunked in tomato ketchup. All the textures, all the flavours. Honestly if you’re a fish and chip aficionado I challenge you to make this and not enjoy it. Happy, happy days.
Now that’s my kind of treat! I love esp. those golden brown sliced halloumi.
Hi Caroline, you know I have never tasted halloumi, now I have no excuse, this meal looks amazing!
This is my kind of dinner! Using haloumi is such a brilliant idea x
I love halloumi every which way. I’m not sure it would beat fish and chips, but it would sure be a close tie!
I could so devour that for lunch today! What a perfect meal 🙂
Oh yum, that looks so good☺
Halloumi with peas sounds like a great combination, sweet and salty, and a squeeze of lemon completes the dish. A great and simple (simple is always best) recipe that’s easy enough to make everyday:)
I love halloumi cheese / this sounds wonderful! One of my favorite lunches in the UK was a salad with fried halloumi! Delicious!
Very original Fish and chip! I never would have thought to use halloumi but love the stuff. Brilliant idea.
What a nice meal Caroline…and I am loving the sound of halloumi…crispy…absolutely delicious!
Have a great week 🙂
We love halloumi done like this! So tasty and yes, the saltiness would go so well with the peas and vinegar.
I’ve been dying to try Halloumi—I need to check to see if my Whole Foods Market carries it locally. What a fabulous meatless meal!
This is brilliant! Very clever, and a great — and unusual! — way to use halloumi. Good dish — thanks.
What a brilliant use of Halloumi. Lovely looking delicious dish.
This is my kind of dinner! I love it 😀
This looks like the perfect alternative to Fish & Chips especially since I love halloumi!