Roast squash with spicy kale and dukkah halloumi
This vegetarian dinner has a Middle Eastern influence, with dukkah-coated halloumi and chilli-spiced kale.
Ingredients
For the roast squash
- 400g/14oz crown prince squash (or similarÌýsquash), diced and skin on
- olive oil, for tossing
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tbsp caster sugarÌý
- 3 tbsp sweet vinegar, such as Chardonnay vinegarÌý
- 2 garlic clovesÌý
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the halloumi
- 250g/9oz block halloumi, left in its plastic wrapÌý
- 60g/2¼oz raw halloumi, torn into chunks
- 1 free-range egg, beatenÌý
- dukkah, to coatÌý
- oil, for deep frying
For the squash purée
- 1 onion, dicedÌý
- 1 garlic clove, choppedÌý
- 200g/7oz squash,Ìýpeeled and diced
- 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for frying
- 1 bay leafÌý
- 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
For the spicy kale
- 1 head kale, chopped
- 1 pinch chilli flakesÌý
- 1 garlic clove, mincedÌý
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
To make the roast squash, preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7. Place the squash in a roasting tin and add the oil and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.ÌýRoast in the oven for 30–40 minutes, until blistered and softened.ÌýWarm the sugar, vinegar and garlic together in a saucepan and pour over the roast squash. Keep warm.Ìý
To make the halloumi, cook the cheese in a saucepan of boiling water for 20 minutes then remove and drain on kitchen paper.ÌýPreheat a deep fat fryer to 180C. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Place the egg and dukkah in wide, shallow bowls and dip the broken raw halloumi into the mix. Deep fry until crisp then transfer to kitchen paper to drain.
To make the purée, heat a splash oil in a frying pan and sweat the onion and garlic until softened. Add the squash, rosemary and bay leaf and slowly sweat until it is just cooked but without colour. Add just enough water and simmer until the squash has softened. Remove the rosemary and bay leaf and transfer the remaining ingredients to a food processor. Blitz with the olive oil to create a smooth purée.Ìý
To make the kale, heat a splash of oil in a frying pan and fry the kale, chilli and garlic until softened. Season with salt and pepper.
To serve, place the purée on warmed plates and top with the roast squash. Add the fried halloumi, the tear over the molten halloumi then scatter over the kale and serve.