Halloumi bites

If you’re planning your Chanucah menus, these are ideal for the festive season. Halloumi cheese remains quite firm when cooked so it retains its shape. For a perfect finish ensure you coat the cheese well and evenly with flour, egg and then sesame seeds. You can also enhance the taste of these canapes by adding some spices to the plain flour – like paprika, cumin or coriander. Makes 16 Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp plain flour 2 eggs 100g sesame seeds 400g Halloumi cheese, cut into 2cm cubes 200m vegetable oil / rapeseed oil 1 tbsp clear honey

Garnish

2 tbsp pomegranate seeds 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley.

METHOD

Place the flour onto a plate.

Beat the egg in a shallow bowl.

Pour sesame seeds onto a second plate. Coat Halloumi cubes in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, then roll in sesame seeds to coat.

Pour oil into a large saucepan or deep frying pan until it reaches about 4 cm deep. Heat the oil until hot.

Gently cook the coated Halloumi pieces in the oil. Do not overcrowd the saucepan. Cook, turning cubes often, until sesame seeds turn golden brown, about 2 minutes.

Transfer to a rack to cool and for the excess oil to drip off. Repeat with remaining cubes.

Drizzle honey over the Halloumi cubes just before serving.

Serve sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and finely chopped parsley.