Halloumi Pasta with Tahini Dressing

This halloumi pasta recipe is a great summer dish. With roasted tomatoes, pine nuts and a creamy tahini dressing it's great served hot or cold.

I cannot believe it's taken me this long to combine halloumi and pasta.

I mean they're literally two of the best foods in the world and I eat them both at least once a week but until now I didn't realise how perfect they'd be in the same dish. 

And now this dish, or a version of it, will be appearing on my menu on the regular from now on. I'd initially planned to make a vegan version of this pasta but then I had a block of halloumi cheese in the fridge and I couldn't resist adding it to the dish.

I'll definitely be revisiting the initial vegan plan (and you could definitely leave the halloumi out of this recipe if you want to) but for now that combination of pasta, halloumi, sweet roasty tomatoes and creamy tahini dressing is just so dreamy. 

Why we love this recipe...

• This pasta needs just a handful of ingredients which are all bursting with flavour and taste so good when combined
• It's vegetarian and you can even make it vegan if you leave out the halloumi
• It has an amazing creamy tahini dressing which adds an incredible nutty flavour to the pasta
• It's easily customisable and you could add any extra vegetables you like 

Ingredients

• Pasta: I used fusilli but you could try any cut you like
• Cherry Tomatoes: Roasted with olive oil until collapsing and juicy
• Fresh Parsley: Finely chopped. Use basil if you prefer
• Pine Nuts
• Halloumi: Sliced and fried until browned on both sides
• Tahini Dressing: A delicious combination of olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard and maple syrup

How to make this recipe...

1. Cook the pasta and tomatoes: Toss the tomatoes with olive oil and salt and pepper and roast for 15 minutes. Follow the packet instructions to cook the pasta then drain. 
2. Make the dressing: Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients and thin with water if needed.
3. Fry the halloumi: Fry the halloumi in a dry pan in batches until browned (get more tips for this in my how to cook halloumi post)
4. Finish the pasta: Toss together the pasta, tomatoes, parsley, pine nuts, halloumi and dressing.

Expert tips for making this pasta

• This pasta recipe works great hot or cold so it's perfect for weekday lunches
• It's important not to overcrowd the pan when frying the halloumi otherwise it won't brown so make sure to do it in batches
• I would highly recommend making extra dressing and keeping it in the fridge to have on salads or use as a dip, it's super versatile and delicious
• To make this recipe gluten free simply use your favourite brand of gluten free pasta

FAQs

What to do with leftovers

This pasta stores great in the fridge for up to 3 days. I wouldn't recommend freezing the leftovers as the pasta will go mushy and the halloumi will change texture.

Can you eat halloumi raw?

You can but it's so much better when it's been fried or grilled to make it crispy on the outside and soft in the middle!

Is halloumi healthy?

Halloumi is a good source of protein and calcium which is great but it also has a far amount of fat and salt so it's a good idea to eat it in moderation.

How do I stop halloumi going rubbery?

Halloumi often goes rubbery if it has been overcooked so make sure to only cook it for a couple of minutes on each side - just enough time for it to brown on the outside and get soft on the inside. The other reason it can be rubbery is because it has been left to cool after cooking. Personally, I'm happy to eat halloumi cold and don't mind the texture which is why I think this pasta can be served cold and as leftovers. However, do bear that in mind if you don't like the texture of cold halloumi!

What extras can be added into this pasta?

There's so much that could be added to this recipe! First of all, veggies like spinach, rocket, cucumber, red onion and any other salad ingredients would be so tasty. You could also add extra protein like shredded chicken or some chickpeas.

What to serve with this pasta?

This pasta is delicious and filling on its own but you could also serve it with a simple side salad or even some garlic bread!

Try these other halloumi recipes!

• Strawberry Salad with Grilled Halloumi
• Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Satay Sauce
• 20 Minute Halloumi and Potato Stir Fry
• Healthy Halloumi Bake with Aubergine
• Halloumi Piccata
• Halloumi Salad with Kale and Tahini Dressing
• Halloumi Curry with Cashew Nut Sauce and Broccoli

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