Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Craving a cozy, hearty meal? This Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions is your answer. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to perfectly crispy halloumi. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Boursin Chicken Recipe Ready in 25 Minutes and Easy Cornbread Stuffing Crab Cakes for Dinner Tonight.
Why This Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy halloumi in every bite
- Tangy sumac onions for a flavor boost
- Better than takeout and ready in 30 minutes
What You'll Need for Cozy 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.
- 1 block halloumi cheese
- 1 cup Israeli couscous
- 1 red onion
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sumac
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish
- Optional: Lemon wedges for serving
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Halloumi cheese: Find it in the specialty cheese section or near the feta.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly crispy halloumi. → See on Amazon
- Microplane Zester — Effortlessly grate the lemon zest for extra flavor. → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
- Cook Couscous: Cook couscous according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Onions: Thinly slice the red onion and mix with honey, olive oil, sumac, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Let it marinate.
- Cook Halloumi: Slice halloumi into 1/2-inch thick slices. Cook in a hot, dry skillet until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked couscous, marinated onions, and crispy halloumi. Toss to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy 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 it from the heat as soon as it's golden and crispy.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving.
- Pro tip: Make it a meal: Add grilled chicken or shrimp for added protein.
- Pro tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the halloumi and add chickpeas or white beans instead.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the marinated onions and cook the couscous up to a day ahead. Assemble just before serving.
Freezing Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Not recommended for this dish.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinated onions.
- Best substitution: Substitute feta cheese for halloumi if you prefer a more crumbly texture.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your halloumi isn't crispy, try increasing the heat or using a bit of oil in the pan.
Want to level up this recipe?
Stainless Steel Salad Spinner — Easily dry and fluff the couscous for the perfect texture. → Check price on Amazon
Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 block halloumi cheese
- 1 cup Israeli couscous
- 1 red onion
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings
- 1 tsp sumac
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Cook Couscous: Cook couscous according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Onions: Thinly slice the red onion and mix with honey, olive oil, sumac, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Let it marinate.
- Cook Halloumi: Slice halloumi into 1/2-inch thick slices. Cook in a hot, dry skillet until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked couscous, marinated onions, and crispy halloumi. Toss to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinated onions.
- Best substitution: Substitute feta cheese for halloumi if you prefer a more crumbly texture.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your halloumi isn't crispy, try increasing the heat or using a bit of oil in the pan.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for this dish.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Prepare the marinated onions and cook the couscous up to a day ahead. Assemble just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 45g
- 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.
Cozy Honey Halloumi Couscous Salad with Sumac Onions FAQs
Overcooking can make halloumi tough. Keep an eye on it and remove it from the heat as soon as it's golden and crispy.
Yes, see storage notes for make-ahead tips. However, the halloumi may lose some of its crispiness when stored.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Add grilled chicken or shrimp for added protein, or serve it over a bed of greens.
This salad features halloumi instead of feta and uses Israeli couscous instead of romaine lettuce. The tangy sumac onions also give it a unique twist.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy 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!
