Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Crispy Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions is the perfect 20-minute restaurant version you can make at home. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to getting that golden, crispy halloumi everyone loves. The sumac onions add a fresh, tangy twist to this cozy, better-than-takeout salad. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Keto Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe and Refreshing Lemon Tiramisu Recipe with Mascarpone Cream.
Why This Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy halloumi in every bite
- Fluffy couscous soaks up the honey-honey dressing
- Tangy sumac onions add a fresh, zesty kick
- Ready in just 20 minutes, better than takeout
What You'll Need for Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Halloumi cheese
- Couscous
- Onion
- Sumac
- Honey
- Sumac
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Pine nuts
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Halloumi: Make sure to pat it dry before cooking to get that perfect crispiness.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Non-stick skillet — Ensures even cooking and prevents halloumi from sticking. → See on Amazon
- Microplane zester — Makes quick work of zesting citrus and grating garlic. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
- Prepare ingredients: Pat halloumi dry, cut into cubes. Cook couscous according to package instructions. Thinly slice onion and zest lemon.
- Cook halloumi: Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add halloumi, cook until golden and crispy. Remove from pan, set aside.
- Make sumac onions: In the same pan, add sliced onions. Cook until softened. Stir in sumac, honey, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked couscous, halloumi, sumac onions, lemon zest, and fresh parsley. Toss to combine. Drizzle with olive oil and honey before serving.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the halloumi. It can become tough and rubbery. Keep an eye on it and remove from pan once golden and crispy.
- Substitution: If you can't find halloumi, you can use feta or paneer. The texture will be slightly different, but still delicious.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but don't mix the salad until ready to serve. The couscous can dry out if left too long.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but don't mix the salad until ready to serve.
Freezing Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra crispy halloumi, you can pan-fry it twice. Once until golden, remove from pan, then fry again until extra crispy.
- Best substitution: If you can't find sumac, you can use lemon zest and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a similar tangy, slightly spicy flavor.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but don't mix the salad until ready to serve. The couscous can dry out if left too long.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To double, simply double the ingredients.
- Troubleshooting: If your halloumi isn't crispy, it might be too wet. Pat it dry before cooking and make sure your pan is hot enough.
Want to level up this recipe?
Couscous steamer — Ensures perfectly fluffy couscous every time. Pays for itself vs takeout. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Halloumi cheese
- Couscous
- Onion
- Sumac
- Honey
Seasonings
- Sumac
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Pine nuts
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Pat halloumi dry, cut into cubes. Cook couscous according to package instructions. Thinly slice onion and zest lemon.
- Cook halloumi: Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add halloumi, cook until golden and crispy. Remove from pan, set aside.
- Make sumac onions: In the same pan, add sliced onions. Cook until softened. Stir in sumac, honey, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked couscous, halloumi, sumac onions, lemon zest, and fresh parsley. Toss to combine. Drizzle with olive oil and honey before serving.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra crispy halloumi, you can pan-fry it twice. Once until golden, remove from pan, then fry again until extra crispy.
- Best substitution: If you can't find sumac, you can use lemon zest and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a similar tangy, slightly spicy flavor.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but don't mix the salad until ready to serve. The couscous can dry out if left too long.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To double, simply double the ingredients.
- Troubleshooting: If your halloumi isn't crispy, it might be too wet. Pat it dry before cooking and make sure your pan is hot enough.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but don't mix the salad until ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions FAQs
You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, but don't mix the salad until ready to serve. The couscous can dry out if left too long.
It might be too wet. Pat it dry before cooking and make sure your pan is hot enough.
You can use lemon zest and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a similar tangy, slightly spicy flavor.
No, this salad is not suitable for freezing.
Yes, you can cook the halloumi in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
